The seaside holiday town of Plettenberg Bay is on high alert following the beaching of a 6 metre orca on Robberg beach last week.
Members of the public phoned the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) station in Plettenberg Bay when the orca was found floundering in shallow surf.
The NSRI crew eventually managed to move the whale into deeper water, while members of the public helped to keep the whale wet by using buckets.
The rare whale has since returned to sea and hasn't been any report of its sighting since it was first spotted in the area.
Here are some interesting facts about a killer/ocar whale:
- According to National Geographic, orcas are toothed black and white whales and the largest species of the dolphin family.
-Orcas are one of the world's most powerful predators - they eat marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales.
-They are known for being social and protective of their young ones, and normally travel in family groups of up to 40.
-They use echolocation to communicate and hunt, make sounds that travel underwater until they encounter objects. Like dolphins, they also bounce back, revealing their location, size and shape.
-They are not dangerous to humans.
This article first appeared on 702 : Beached orca makes waves in Plettenberg Bay