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The vast indigo body invited us with its stillness, deliberately building the strenuous climax as our eyes scanned the horizon. Puuffffth. The characteristic black beacon rose majestically in full glory misted slightly by the blow that precipitated in fine glitters along its back. Beside me shutters clicked furiously, desperate to capture snippets of the elusive creature. The striking black and white torso descended once again into the deeper blue. Leaving us all in an astounded silence. “What we have here is the Ocinus orca. Despite its name, killer whales are not actually whales, but are the largest dolphin species. Highly adapted as the marine ecosystem’s apex predator, which means no-one else predates on them.” The voice through the intercom fuelled the heat from excited passengers. “After humans, orcas are the second most widely distributed mammal. Found in all the world’s oceans and in a vast range of habitats reflected by their diet.” It is not surprising these aesthetic megafauna are studied all over the world. Social organisation of orca pods elucidated that foraging strategies even parental care are culture being passed from the elder of the matriarchal group to the next generation. Forming a highly complex society paralleling humans. “We want to confirm this male orca was the one entangled up north at Tutukaka; notice the coconut sized orange buoy attached to the left pectoral fin? This confirms the animal is indeed the one entangled by cray pot line. Our first mate is now notifying Department of conservation and coastguard of this injured animal.” Submerged beneath the blue skies, the sun’s heat enveloped everyone in a salty humid film further weighed down by concern over the creature’s wellbeing. I couldn’t help but reflect what the footprint of our expanding civilisation would mean to the marine environment we share with these beings. This is their home, yet our desire to fulfil our ambitions meant we have exploited more of the oceans than ever before. Out of the turquoise void, the beautiful creature emerged slow and lethargic. Puuffffth. He is just one of the victims to traverse past space that is now occupied by us. We are both sojourners far from the land we call home, and through this fateful encounter in our lives we have brushed shoulders. Now we each have a tale to share with our kin. A tale that overlapped in time, shared and passed down from two different point of views. As the boat turned back I watched the fragile silhouette sigh -a feeble attempt for air, conjuring a misty veil over the back drop of civilisation. Our obverse fates determined by preeminent power above. Silence. His story will not disappear into oblivion; the true value of this moment has been ingrained on my mind as memory. A memory that connects me back to this big blue backyard that we have shared, a reminiscence that will stir emotions and continue to propel my walk and values in life.