The Lone Orca: Old Thom
Seen only once in a while but never forgotten, Old Thom the lone orca has become a quiet legend of the Bay of Fundy. His rare appearances continue to fascinate whale watchers, who describe encounters with him as unforgettable and deeply moving.
On the Bay of Fundy, one lone orca has left a lasting mark on many. Those lucky enough to encounter Old Thom say that he left them awestruck, describing the experience as truly unforgettable. Although he has only been seen about once a year since 2021, visitors to the bay often ask Brier Island Whale Watch’s ead Naturalist and Research Director, Shelley Lonergan, about him and hope for a chance to see him.
“Because he is rarely sighted and because of his sometimes-gregarious behaviour, he has become a favourite to locals and to our passengers alike. Without a doubt, we receive daily requests to see Old Thom or questions about him.” – Shelley
Ever since he was first sighted in 2005, he has always been seen travelling alone. Aside from many grey-sided dolphins that are known to travel with him, he has never been seen with another orca, which is incredibly odd behaviour for a killer whale. Although nothing has been confirmed, Shelley mentioned a theory that could explain why he lives in solitude which I thought was quite interesting.
“There is a theory that he was orphaned and once a male is orphaned, he loses connection with the family pod and is then ostracized.” - Shelley
As Shelley has seen Old Thom numerous times, she has shared with me what she has learned about him and orcas in general over the past years and how astonishing it is to have an “eye-to-eye” experience with Old Thom. Moments like these highlight just how intelligent and captivating these animals are.
“On a personal note, it was because of him that I learned of the close bond within the family unit. I also find it very interesting that he travels with dolphins most of the time which surprised me. After all the years that I have seen him, I was most impressed by him in 2025 when he approached our boat and swam alongside us and looked at the passengers on board including myself. Eye to eye with an orca is something that I will never forget.” - Shelley
Additionally, I spoke with Edward Spear, a fourth-generation fisherman, who had the rare opportunity to see Old Thom while halibut fishing. He explained that the crew was carrying out its normal activities when they spotted several grey-sided dolphins. Edward said that they began to leave the area and Old Thom suddenly appeared which shocked his whole crew. The lone orca followed them for nearly three miles, staying within about 10 feet of the boat.
Old Thom, photographed by Edward Spear.
Edward noted that he was able to immediately identify the killer whale as Old Thom because of one distinctive feature. On his dorsal fin, there is a notch about a third of the way down the trailing edge. Researchers use these unique notches and scars as natural ways to recognize marine mammals like Old Thom year after year.
Old Thom may only pass through once a year, but for those who work and live along the Bay of Fundy, that possibility is always in the back of their minds. He is proof that a single animal, glimpsed rarely and briefly, can quietly become a part of a community's story.
About the Author
Calin Greenlaw is a Grade 9 student at St. Stephen High School and an award-winning youth author. He has been writing with Brilliant Labs Magazine through a personal interest course offered by his school. During his time with Brilliant Labs, Calin supported team interviews, photography, and videography at the Canadian National Brilliant Blue Challenge in April 2026, held at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS.
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