John Coe
Orcinus orca
A well known killer whale referred to as John Coe off Clogher Head, Co. Kerry. The animal is recognisable by the large notch cut out from the bottom of the dorsal fin. John Coe is part of the West Coast Community of killer whales more commonly seen off the coast of Scotland. In over twenty years of study this small community of killer whales (only 8 individuals left in 2018) seem to have produced no offspring. One of the group's female members washed ashore in 2016 and was so full of toxins that her carcass was treated has a public health hazard. Killer whales are at the top of the food chain and bioaccumulate toxins like heavy metals from species further down the chain. Blubber readily stores these aggregations and it is believed they may interfere with reproduction. John Coe has been recorded at least four other times around the Blasket Islands.
A well known killer whale referred to as John Coe off Clogher Head, Co. Kerry. The animal is recognisable by the large notch cut out from the bottom of the dorsal fin. John Coe is part of the West Coast Community of killer whales more commonly seen off the coast of Scotland. In over twenty years of study this small community of killer whales (only 8 individuals left in 2018) seem to have produced no offspring. One of the group's female members washed ashore in 2016 and was so full of toxins that her carcass was treated has a public health hazard. Killer whales are at the top of the food chain and bioaccumulate toxins like heavy metals from species further down the chain. Blubber readily stores these aggregations and it is believed they may interfere with reproduction. John Coe has been recorded at least four other times around the Blasket Islands.