EXPERTS are monitoring sightings of killer whales swimming in Scottish waters to determine whether there has been an increase in the number of the mammals.

A two-year survey is being conducted by Aberdeen University to establish whether orca populations are increasing in Scotland's seas or if there are simply more recorded sightings.

Experts are also looking at the relationships between different kilADVERTISEMENTler whale groups in the North Atlantic and building up a catalogue of photographs so more individuals can be identified.

The Shetland-based survey is being carried out by Andy Foote, an Aberdeen University postgraduate researcher, and Dr Volker Deecke from the St Andrews Sea Mammals Research Unit.

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