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Story: Orcas

Breaching orca

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Breaching orca

To breach the water, the orca swims towards the surface at great speed, gathering enough momentum to propel its massive body clear of the water.

Using this item

Orca Research Trust, Ingrid Visser

by Ingrid Visser

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Orcas – Orcas in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/3999/breaching-orca (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009.