Killers of Eden: The Killer Whales of Twofold Bay by Tom Mead

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Previous owner has signed inside page, now covered with blank ex libris bookplate sticker.

The book Killers of Eden by Sydney journalist Tom Mead tells an amazing story of killer whales. For almost a hundred years, the same pack of killers returned to Eden, on Twofold Bay, NSW, assisting local fishermen during the winter whaling season.

These killers would herd whales into the bay, when necessary, attracting the land-based whalemen. As the boats put out from the shore, one killer would lead them to where the rest of the pack had surrounded the whale, working much as sheepdogs do for drovers. After the kill, the pack claimed the dead whale's tongue and lips as reward, the fishermen removing the rest of the carcass a few days later.

The killers became local legends, and the fishermen, who knew each one by his individual characteristics, dubbed them with such distinctive names as Stranger and Humpy. Old Tom, the leader, whose skeleton is preserved at Eden, was remarkable for his organising ability.

Three generations of the Davidson family used friendly killers while whaling in Twofold Bay. When the last one died in 1930, George Davidson went out of business because he had lost his most valuable asset. Such voluntary cooperation between man and another species for so long defies explanation and must be one of the most unusual cases ever recorded. (back cover)