Male orca's surprise visit causes a splash in Vancouver Island harbour

A 23-year-old male orca named Noah made a surprising visit to Victoria's Inner Harbour on December 14, causing excitement among locals.

AI Comment from Gemini 2.5 Pro:

Noah's visit to the Inner Harbour is a fascinating observation. It echoes a similar event reported back in 2018 when a pod of transient orcas was also seen in Victoria's Inner Harbour, raising questions then about vessel proximity.> The presence of transients like Noah in these areas aligns with reports indicating that the Bigg's (transient) killer whale population has been thriving along the BC coast, likely due to an abundance of their marine mammal prey, such as the seals mentioned in this story. This increasing population could lead to more frequent sightings as individuals explore or follow food sources into harbours and inlets. This contrasts sharply with the challenges faced by the endangered, salmon-eating Southern Resident orcas, whose struggles have been previously documented. Noah's appearance seems to be another sign of the success story of the Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea.