HUNT OR BE HUNTED

Taylor
Apr 30, 2017
2 min read

Orcas do not universally hunt the exact same way. The style of hunting that is used depends on the actual pod, itself, and what generations have taught its young along with what area the pod is in and what types of food resources are available.

Food sources for orca is wide range from salmon, seabird, seals and even other whales. Orcas have been sighted to have hunted sharks and dolphins as well. Even if orcas are the top of the food chain in all kingdoms, they still risk being hunted by none other than, man.

4 WAYS ORCAS HUNT

1. Carousel: The “Stun Affect”- this style of hunting for the orcas includes the pods surrounding large school of fish. The orcas know they are not as fast as the fish and cannot keep up with the deception the school puts on when working together. However, the orcas are smarter than you think- the

whales have learned if they use the force of their tail to WHACK! and stun the fish- it delays and give the orcas enough time to swallow the fish.

2. Beaching: This style is interesting to on-lookers, as orcas literally swim up and beach themselves to catch seals. The whales use the waves’ tides to push their bodies onto the sand further. This action is quick and strategically planned in order to fulfill and achieve the whale’s mission. (0:35)

3. Wave-runner: There are multiple names for this hunting style however; wave-runner is a little easier to remember. This is probably the most infamous style of orca hunting as the video below became viral. Who were you rooting for, the whales or the seal? Anyway, the wave-runner combines a group of whales into one complete force. The group swims together just below the water’s surface to form a powerful wave of movement causing the seal to fall off the piece of ice it is shivering on.

4. Drowning: This is usually used when it comes to larger prey such as large whales. Many seems to think this is where the name, “Killer Whale” comes from because orcas actually kill whales. This style of hunting consists of the orcas literally covering the whale’s blowhole and forcing it to stay underwater until it dies.

There are many other styles of hunting and probably some that researchers don’t even know about. Orcas’ hunting patterns are impressive especially with how smart, intentional and fearless they can be when it comes to their prey.

More styles here: