The Incident:
In February 2024, the man from Auckland, who has not been named, jumped into the water near Devonport, Auckland, landing on top of an orca and its calf. The video footage, which shows the man intentionally splashing down on the marine animals, quickly garnered attention online. The man’s friends can be heard cheering and encouraging the stunt, with one shouting, “Did you get it?” after the splashdown.
The DOC was alerted to the footage by concerned members of the public who reported the incident as a serious breach of wildlife protection laws. Hayden Loper, principal investigation officer at the DOC, described the man’s actions as “stupid” and “irresponsible.” Loper emphasized the danger of such behavior, noting that orcas are powerful animals and the encounter could have ended badly for both the man and the orca.
