Table 3 Summary of Inuit interviewee information and observations of killer whale attacks on bowhead whales, and observations of dead bowhead whales that were killed by killer whales.

Interviewees reporting first-hand observations

10

2

5

0

17

Interviewees reporting second-hand observations and stories

6

4

2

6

18

Interviewees providing descriptions of attacks and attack methods

10

4

3

4

21

Killer whales:

   ...circle the bowhead, to keep it from escaping while others attack

1

1

2

   ...hold the whale underwater and/or cover the blowhole, to drown it

8

2

2

12

   ...bite and hold on to the whale by the front flippers and/or tail flukes

5

1

2

8

   ...ram the whale in the side "to break ribs", and tear chunks out of the belly

5

2

2

4

13

Interviewees reporting dead bowhead whales that were killed by killer whales

16

1

5

22

Interviewees providing descriptions of dead bowheads

9

2

11

Hunters find dead bowhead whales:

   ...with killer whale teeth marks on the flippers, tail, belly, and baleen

3

2

5

   ...with large chunks torn out and their bellies ripped open

5

2

7

   ...that have broken bones, busted ribs

1

1

   ...that are fresh kills, still warm

3

3

   ...that are fresh enough for meat and muktuk to be collected from

2

2

   ...that were killed for fun and not eaten, wasted by the killer whales

4

4

   ...that are being scavenged by polar bears

1

1