'This really could have ended horribly,' a New Zealand conservation officer said of the shocking incident, which was caught on video.
A New Zealand man has been fined for what authorities are calling an attempt to “body slam” an orca in the wild.in February shows a man jumping off a boat to harass an adult orca and calf while those on board cheer him on.
Investigators determined that the incident happened off the coast of Devonport, Auckland, and that the orca toucher was a 50-year-old Auckland man, whose name has not been released. He was fined 600 New Zealand dollars — or a little less than $400.“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,” Loper said in the press release.
Bothering a calf could be especially bad, she said, since it could result in the calf being separated from an adult it relies on for survival.to people who complained that the Auckland man’s fine was too low. The penalty was influenced by the fact that he had no prior violations and that the orca did not appear to be significantly harmed or disturbed.
However, the department noted that anyone charged with “harassing, disturbing, injuring or killing” a marine mammal could face a fine of up to 250,000 New Zealand dollars or two years behind bars.Orphaned Orca Calf Trapped In Lagoon For Over A Month Is Finally FreeBy entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners.
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