Killer Whales of Eden

November 16, 2005 6:49 PM

"Old Tom is the most famous of the Eden killer whales". The story of a pod of killer whales who enlisted the help of fishermen in NSW, Australia to hunt baleen whales. The pod would corral the whales, while Old Tom would tow the fishing boats out to sea by pulling the anchor ropes in his teeth. The reward? The fishermen left the whale overnight and the orcas got to eat the tongue. Alas, it seems Old Tom may have met his end when the covenant was broken and a fisherman named Logan tried to take the whale to shore before the feast. Tom tried to hold the boat back with the rope, but it broke a tooth which infected and led to his death. Tom's skeleton is now on display at the Eden Killer Whale Museum. His story inspired a young girl to become a biologist and investigate the story for herself.
posted by qwip (8 comments total)

Amazing story! Thanks!
posted by brundlefly at 8:30 PM on November 16, 2005

Great post. . . .truly the best of the net. . .thank you
posted by Danf at 8:46 PM on November 16, 2005

Neato!
posted by notsnot at 8:51 PM on November 16, 2005

Thank you.
posted by troutfishing at 9:29 PM on November 16, 2005

Good post. But needs more mushroom. kidding, kidding
posted by stirfry at 9:32 PM on November 16, 2005

I was amazed myself on the mouse-over of the second image on the first link. You can actually see the wear on the tooth where the rope ran through. Crazy fish..., er, mammals.
posted by qwip at 9:35 PM on November 16, 2005

Nice story.
Next time something other than golf on the Sapphire Coast.
posted by johnny7 at 11:37 PM on November 16, 2005

Eden is about as far south as you can go in NSW,and very beautiful indeed,nice post mate.
posted by hortense at 12:16 AM on November 17, 2005