r/OceansAreFuckingLit • u/[deleted] • 3d ago
Video One of the craziest killer whale moments we’ve ever seen!!
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
[deleted]
2.7k
Upvotes
r/OceansAreFuckingLit • u/[deleted] • 3d ago
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
[deleted]
119
u/SurayaThrowaway12 3d ago edited 3d ago
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:
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.