Scientists Discover the Evolutionary Mysteries of "Old Tom" and Eden's Killer Whale
The fabled killer whale Old Tom shares genetic ties with contemporary killer whales in New Zealand, a finding that raises questions about the local extinction of his kind. Additionally, by highlighting the long-standing relationship between Indigenous Australians and killer whales, the study decolonizes Eden's whaling history. SciTechDaily.com is credited.
For the first time, evolutionary biologists have been able to piece together the genetic heritage of a well-known killer whale in Australia.
Evolutionary biologists have uncovered the genetic past of a famous killer whale and its family, who have historically cooperated with whale hunters off the coast of New South Wales, for the first time.
According to new DNA study, the leader of this pod, known as Old Tom, who became well-known for aiding whalers in the 20th century when they were hunting baleen whales, shares genetic ties with the killer whales that live in New Zealand today.
Old Tom is most comparable to contemporary New Zealand killer whales, although he also has common ancestors with killer whales from the North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Australasia. The fact that the majority of Tom's DNA is absent from other killer whales worldwide raises the possibility that the Eden killer whale population may have gone extinct locally.
Graphic depicting ancestry testing of “Old Tom”, a killer whale central to a cooperative hunting relationship with human whalers. Credit: Isabella Reeves at Flinders University
Old Tom's Particular Past and Present-Day Studies
Known as the killers of Eden, Old Tom, and his family would help whalers hunt their target and were rewarded with the lips and tongues from the whale carcass. This is known as the “Law of the Tongue.”
Over many generations of whalers, the whalers and Old Tom's family maintained and strengthened their legendary relationship. Old Tom, which washed up on the coast in 1930, was 6.7 meters in length and weighed six tonnes. He is currently on display at the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
DNA testing of Old Tom at the Eden Killer Whale Museum in Australia. Credit: Charlie White
Under the direction of PhD candidate Isabella Reeves at Flinders University and the Cetacean Research Centre, a multinational research team set out on an ambitious mission to try to trace Old Tom's genetic lineage through DNA sequencing and comparisons with killer whales worldwide using archaic DNA techniques.
In an effort to decolonize the history of the Killers of Eden that has never been formally recorded, the researchers have also disclosed fresh discoveries via collaboration with Thaua Traditional Custodian Steven Holmes.
Map of Twofold Bay, NSW Australia. Credit: Isabella Reeves
Reeves' Results and the Native American Link
While there were no direct offspring of Old Tom found through genetic comparisons, the lead researcher Isabella Reeves notes that Tom shared a significant amount of his DNA diversity with other killer whales, suggesting that they are extinct in the area where they are found now.
The Eden Killers symbolize an uncommon alliance between humans and whales. Tracing Old Tom's genetic lineage was an exciting adventure that gave rise to the first insights into this group's genetic history and won over the community's and whale enthusiasts' hearts.
By revealing a decolonized past, our research also ventured into unexplored ground. We worked with a Traditional Custodian, who provided us with new insight about Eden's whaling past. This allowed us to correct historical errors and illuminate a significant portion of this remarkable tale about the relationship between their people and these whales. Crucially, we want to make sure that this part of the narrative is recognized going forward.
Ancient DNA lab work at Flinders University on Old Tom and the Killers of Eden. Credit: Andrew Foote
Because the Thaua people depend on the ocean for their sustenance, they had a highly valued and dependable relationship with the killer whales in Twofold Bay through the Dreaming. The Thaua people were a component of the Yuin country.
It's critical that we acknowledge that, before to European colonialism and the start of local commercial whaling, Indigenous Australians established the relationship with killer whales. According to Ms. Reeves, "This study resolves inconsistencies in local records and offers fresh perspective on the genesis of the killer whales in Eden and the background of Australasian killer whales."
Old Tom skeleton at the Eden Killer Whale Museum. Credit: Charlie White
According to Steven Holmes, the Traditional Custodian, the Thaua people had a close relationship with the whales in Eden, particularly Old Tom.
Killer whales, or beowas, are regarded as our brothers. One of our Dreamtime legends, which ties us to the Beowa, is that a Thaua member's death results in their rebirth as a Beowa. The beowas never truly left the Thaua; they were always a part of them. The beowas would assist the men by herding the remaining whales in Turembulerrer Bay (also known as Twofold Bay) so that the whalers could slaughter them. The whale's tongue would be given to the beowas as a reward by the indigenous whalers. The Law of the Tongue was soon to be named after this.
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