Featured Image Credit: New Zealand Department of Conservation
Topics: Animal Cruelty, New Zealand, News, Nature, Animals
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Animal Cruelty, New Zealand, News, Nature, Animals
A man has been slammed for his 'stupid behavior' after seemingly trying to jump on an orca.
In video footage taken in February of this year, the unidentified individual is seen diving off a boat in a bid to 'body slam' an orca in the water that was swimming close by.
At one point in the video, the man yells 'I touched it' to the others on the boat as the others looked on.
It's said the male orca was with a calf at the time, but it's unclear if the man knew this.
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Fortunately it isn't believed either of the orcas were injured in the ordeal.
The incident took place in Auckland, New Zealand, with the 50-year-old man in question having since been charged for his actions as it breached the country's Marine Mammals Protection Act.
He's been hit with a NZ$600 (US$366) fine, Sky News reports.
New Zealand's Department of Conversation (DOC) was made aware of the video after people expressed concerns about the orcas' welfare.
Both the DOC and the Harbour Master had also received calls the weekend of the incident from worried members of the public who'd witnessed people getting too close to the marine mammals.
DOC Principal Investigation Officer Hayden Loper has criticised the unnamed man and labelled his behavior as 'stupid'.
“The video left us genuinely stunned,” Loper said, as per a DOC media release. “As well as the initial attempt to dive onto the animal, the man stays in the water and then swims toward it again in a second attempt to touch it."
He continued: “This is stupid behaviour and demonstrates a shocking disregard for the welfare of the orca. It is extremely irresponsible.
“Orca are immensely powerful animals, and this really could have ended horribly – with either the startled whale being injured, or the man responsible being harmed by the aggravated animal.
“It’s a very clear breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act. Orca are classified as whales under conservation legislation and it is illegal to swim with whales, or disturb or harass any marine mammal.”
The Investigation Officer said that the February incident is the third case like this that the DOC's been made aware of in recent years.
Loper continued to urge people to share their concerns with the government body so that more successful prosecutions can take place.
Anyone in New Zealand who sees an incident they believe may breach conservation legislation can call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).