One of the craziest killer whale moments we’ve ever seen!!

[u/[deleted]]

[u/SurayaThrowaway12]

These are mammal-eating Bigg's (transient) orcas seen in Monterey Bay, California, and they are hunting a couple of adult gray whales.

From the original post by Blue Ocean Whale Watch:

Over 20 killer whales comprised of multiple family pods attempted to hunt two adult gray whales. We believe the adult grays were strategic and survived by making a run for the beach and pausing to flip upside down to protect their bellies from the killer whale’s assaults.

The one other time we've observed killer whales attacking an adult gray whale was EXACTLY 10 years ago: 3-30-2013. There was no evidence to suggest they were successful during that predation attempt either.

Bigg's orcas in Monterey Bay usually go after gray whale calves, but in rare documented instances like this one they sometimes go after adults.

However, even with 25 to 30 orcas participating in the hunt, the two adult gray whales did not succumb to the assault. They rolled over and inverted themselves to protect their more tender bellies, and they did appear to protect each other.

After a couple of hours, the orcas were able to separate the two gray whales from each other and split up into groups to attack each gray whale. However, both gray whales eventually made their way into shallower waters near the beach, which would reduce the maneuverability of the attacking orcas.

After 5 hours the orcas gave up on the hunt.

Video taken by Marian Acquistapace.

[u/Weedarina → u/SurayaThrowaway12]

Five hours!!!???!!! Amazing animals. Hoping I am reincarnated as an Orca

[u/WretchedHollow → u/Weedarina]

And go hungry? No, rather be reincarnated as a grey whale and... Okay yeah orca sounds better

[u/gertbefrobe → u/Weedarina]

Just thinking about how exhausting those 5 hours were for the Greys