Photo: Killer Whale Couple Vancouver Island Sunset

A soft colored sunset decorates the sky off Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada as a couple of Killer Whales come up for air.

A couple of Killer Whales leisurely swim past our boat during the sunset hours off Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. This couple has probably veered off from their pod to try a little fishing or exploring on their own.

Typically, whale watchers, along with many years of studying by whale researchers, have found that pods of Killer Whales remain within calling distance of the matriarch or dominant female when they separate. Once they are beckoned to return to their close knit family grouping, the matriarch will usually call this couple back, along with the others by using her vocalization calls.

While traveling together as a pod, the matriarch who needs to remind her family of her dominance, will either use her vocals or slap her tail against the water. There have been incidents known that she will also use head-butting, jaw-snapping, biting, raking or other prominent gestures to keep her family intact and under control. ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Killer Whale Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

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In the backdrop, the sunset lighting creates a pink tinge above the coastal treeline, while the higher mountain range decorates the landscape. The scenery around Northern Vancouver Island is spectacular on its own, but when a couple of Killer Whales appear in the beautiful sunset lighting, nothing else can compare.

While visiting Northern Vancouver Island during the summer or early fall, be sure to book a whale watching excursion to view the beauty of the Killer Whale in its natural environment. Many years of research has made humans a lot more knowledgeable of the Killer Whale, but there is still plenty that these marine mammals keep to themselves.

Killer Whales off Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, Orcas at sunset