Posted on 04/23/2017 6:52:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A rare sighting in the animal kingdom continues to mesmerize marine biologists and whale watchers in the Monterey Bay.
For the fourth day in a row, whale watchers on Sunday spotted an abnormally large pod of killer whales feasting on the carcasses of two gray whales, according to Nancy Black from Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
Killer whales are famous for their violent attacks and relentless feeding practices, but to see this type of behavior and this amount of mammal-eating creatures just off the coast of Monterey is "pretty rare," Black said.
"This won't happen everyday," she said.
The first gray whale's carcass was originally discovered last Thursday followed by another carcass appearing Friday, according to Black.
Ever since Thursday, throngs of killer whale mothers and calves have taken turns taking bites out of the dead whales' blubber.
An array of whale species typically migrate to Monterey Bay during the spring months for feeding season, according to Black. Killer whales tend to hunt in groups of six to ten, but Black said the group this year is a "very large number."
Not to be outdone, Humpback whales also joined the mix. Black said Humpback whales tend to barge into the fold when killer whales feed.
No one was fined for harrasing wildlife?
Orca - the baddest predator in the sea.
BLM was outraged that these predominantly black whales are described as killer whales.
It was judged to be prejudicial that they hunted in packs and described in advance to be violent predators.
Why don’t the orcas eat the humpbacks too?
There must be a lot of food in the ocean this year. We went out about 1 1/2 weeks ago and found a feeding ground with about 1000 dolphins and 10-15 humpbacks in it. They were all around the boat.
Off the Ventura coast.
SeaWorld is evil!
Oh, wait, this is natural Killer whale behavior?
never mind...
When Nancy Black filmed something like this the NOAA’s SWAT Team performed a DYNAMIC ENTRY on her Pacific Grove home, smashing numerous items.
They threatened her with 20 years in prison.
humpbacks are in the group of baleen whales, I don’t think they are feeding on the gray whales.
Don’t you listen to them, Shameyou! You aren’t a killer whale! You’re a Friendly Whale!
Don’t let them label you!
Sure, you ate Flipper, but he had it coming!
Maybe you could improve your image if you ate some Brussel Sprouts or beans.
Chomping dolphins in half makes you look kind of mean.
Sadly, no. There are historic levels of fisheries failures. We are seeing more activity because whales etc. have not found food in their customary hunting grounds and are congregating where there’s still food..until it’s depleted.
Unusual amounts of emaciated (no food?) grey whales washing up on beaches, salmon fisheries crashes, reports of seal reproduction dives ...not good.
I’ve read of freakish numbers of grey whale strandings and emaciated whales washing up on shore. I haven’t heard the same of humpbacks. It’s likely the orcas are feeding on weakened greys.
PFL
Orcas dominate Great White Shark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC8Wxfn5xFw
“Orca - the baddest predator in the sea”
I read an article a couple of years back that stated while the Orca and some shark species are spectacularly adept hunter/killers, the Tuna was deemed pound for pound the most decimating and therefore considered the apex of predatory ocean dwellers.
I remember the old SEA HUNT show in which Lloyd Bridges declares we need to “WIPE OUT” the killer whales.
I think this is the episode.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0696747/
Actually what I’ve seen is poisoning from red tide. We’ve had sea lions on shore sick but it’s been neuron toxins from red tide.
I just happened to be on a 4 hour whale watching trip out of Monterey this morning. Thanks for posting the link. The marine biologist guide said there were 9 killer whales and 2 humpbacks seen. There could have been more, lots more.
There are LOTS of pictures on the FACEBOOK page for the tour company. But I saw and heard the drone a lot today so the biologists must really like using them.
https://www.facebook.com/gowhales/videos/1228965493867850/
Lloyd Bridges has passed away and killer whales are still here.
The killers probably killed the baby grey whale and ate it. The Humpies were just near by probably.
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