description Old Tom Overview
Old Tom was a well-known killer whale associated with the shore-whaling operation at Twofold Bay, near Eden in New South Wales, Australia. For decades, he and other orcas helped whalers locate and herd baleen whales into the bay, where the animals could be hunted from shore. Local accounts described the cooperation as the Law of the Tongue, and Old Tom died in 1930. His skeleton is displayed at the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
help Old Tom FAQ
Who was Old Tom?
Old Tom was a well-known killer whale associated with the shore-whaling operation at Twofold Bay near Eden, New South Wales. He and other orcas helped whalers find and herd baleen whales into the bay.
How did Old Tom help whalers?
The orcas located whales offshore and helped drive them toward Twofold Bay. Shore whalers could then hunt the baleen whales from land-based stations.
Where is Old Tom associated with?
Old Tom is associated with Twofold Bay and the town of Eden on Australia's New South Wales coast. The local history is tied to cooperation between wild orcas and shore-whaling crews.
Was Old Tom a trained captive killer whale?
No. He was a wild killer whale involved in a local shore-whaling relationship. The orcas worked in the bay while remaining free-ranging animals.
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