Watch famous orca ‘Old Thom’ make rare appearance off Massachusetts coast

A killer whale was spotted in a rare sighting off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts, according to Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

“Very exciting to see!” the organization wrote on their social media about the June 2 sighting.

According to the New England Aquarium, orca sightings are highly uncommon in New England waters.

And this wasn’t just any whale sighting: researchers know this whale.

The whale, nicknamed “Old Thom” by experts, has visited off and on for years. He is easily recognizable to those who know what to look for.

“Looks like ‘Old Thom’ is visiting the area again,” shark biologist John Chisholm said in a post on X. “He was spotted today off Chatham. We know it’s him from his very distinct dorsal fin.”

Old Thom has been spotted periodically since 2008. He’s described by experts as solitary and a “bit of a wanderer,” according to Boston.com. Orcas are typically seen in pods with other orcas, but Old Thom tends to swim alone, or occasionally with dolphins.

According to the New England Aquarium, Old Thom is the only killer whale that’s been spotted repeatedly in the North Atlantic.

This story was originally published June 7, 2024 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Watch famous orca ‘Old Thom’ make rare appearance off Massachusetts coast."