Getting to Know Sakkara

The name “Sakkara” is familiar to many whale watchers and researchers in Iceland. For more than a decade, Sakkara has been a regular visitor to our area in Faxaflói bay. She is one of the most recognisable killer whales in the Icelandic population, with a distinctive square-shaped nick in her dorsal fin. But her signature appearance is only part of the reason why she has earned her celebrity status.

Sakkara characteristic nick

Sakkara’s Rise to Fame

For many years, Icelandic killer whales were thought to feed primarily on fish, especially herring, much like the well-known Resident orca populations in the North Pacific. However, more recent studies have shown that Icelandic orcas have a far more varied diet than originally thought. They have been observed preying on seals, ducks, harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, and even attempting to take down minke whales. It seems that certain pods, and possibly even individual whales, may specialise in different prey types.

Sakkara’s pod is one of these. In April 2021, they made headlines in the local news when a video showed her and her offspring hunting a seal in Hvalfjörður, joined by a large male. Encounters over the years have confirmed that this group regularly hunts seals and, interestingly, the younger whales appear to target eider ducks.

About Sakkara

Although her exact age is unknown, Sakkara is an adult female and the matriarch of her pod. At present, her pod consists of five additional individuals: another adult female, three juveniles, and an adult male.

Her social history has been especially interesting to follow starting from 2015 when we first met her in Faxaflói. Up until 2020, we typically observed Sakkara travelling with a larger pod consisting of eight individuals. Sometime in 2020, however, she appeared to split away, taking her offspring with her, which could indicate that Sakkara was possibly starting to form her own pod. During or shortly after the split, an adult male joined the pod, who we had not previously seen associating with Sakkara or her original pod. Since then, two calves have been born into Sakkara’s new pod.

Sakkara with her pod and a calf by her side

Encounters in Faxaflói

We have encountered Sakkara in Faxaflói on numerous occasions over the last decade, both with her original pod prior to the split, and her new pod. A recurring pattern has emerged: they are often seen very close to shore, usually travelling clockwise along the coastline and islands. Most of these encounters occur either in winter (November, January) or in high summer (June, July), suggesting a seasonal pattern.

Sakkara swimming close to Engey

Her most recent visit to Faxaflói took place on September 18th, 2025. Poor weather prevented our team from being at sea that day, but we had been told that the pod was once again close to the shoreline, and was harassing eider ducks before disappearing into the bay. So far, this is the only orca pod we have consistently observed engaging in this distinctive behaviour in Faxaflói.

Sakkara and her pod near the harbour wall, an area with many eider ducks

The reasons behind this behaviour remain uncertain. One theory is that they are searching the shoreline for young or fledgling eider ducks, which are easier prey for juveniles who may have not yet gained the skills to hunt larger, more agile prey. Another possibility is that they may be using shallow waters and rocks for skin maintenance, similar to behaviours documented in Northern Resident orcas in the North Pacific.

Why Sakkara Matters

Sakkara is not the only Icelandic orca known to hunt seals and ducks, but her recognisable appearance, unusual coastal behaviour, and interesting social dynamics make her a key individual for research. By following her life, we may gain insights into diet specialisation, social structures, and habitat use within groups in the Icelandic killer whale population.

Passenger enjoying an encounter ith Sakkara

Her story also highlights the value of naming whales: names help us track individuals over time and communicate their lives to a wider audience. Giving whales names also plays an important role in conservation (learn more on this topic). When people can identify with a named individual, it creates a stronger emotional connection and helps bridge the gap between scientific research and public concern, adding anthropomorphic values and allowing the general public to view these whales as recognisable individuals with personalities rather than anonymous animals. Following Sakkara’s life allows us to share her story with others, and in doing so, we hope to inspire deeper care and protection for whales and their habitats. We look forward to many more encounters with Sakkara and to discovering what the next chapters of her journey will reveal!

Sigrún Ragnheiður Helgudóttir