A marine biologist said that during the hour-long struggle, as many as 70 killer whales were captured and killed a blue whale off the southwest coast of Australia. .
At first, this seemed to be a normal whale watching day, said Kristy Brown, a marine biologist at Naturaliste Charters, a company engaged in whale watching tours in Western Australia.The ship hit two pods Orca In the Bremen Bay Canyon, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) from the coast, “playing with waves and surfing”, Brown Written in a blog post on March 16.
But soon, people on the ship noticed that the orcas were creating uneven surges. This is weird; for example, when orcas hunt beaked whales, they tend to move in unison, causing waves in one direction.Brown said: “But it̵
related: Photo: Orca eating huge white shark organs
It is not clear whether the prey is a juvenile blue whale (small) Or dwarf blue whale (Short head), because “all use this water,” Brown told Live Science in an email. In any case, when the blue beast ventured alone into the canyon system where the killer whales swim, he made a big mistake.
Although the name is Orca (Orca) (Also called killer whale) is not a whale. On the contrary, they are the largest species in the dolphin family, According to the Marine Conservation Association.And, as their “killer” name implies, these marine mammals are known for hunting all kinds of prey, including Humpback whales, seal, Sea turtle and even Great White Shark.
In this case, even if the length of the blue whale is almost twice the length of the largest orca, the largest orca can grow to about 31 feet (9.5 m), but it cannot escape the chaser. “It’s completely surrounded by orcas[s] When it swims,” Brown wrote in his blog. In addition, the orca does not seem to be eager to hunt, but “strategic, thoughtful, collaborative, and patient.” [and] Lasting”, Brown wrote in his blog.
In the periodic waves, “there are multiple orcas running on the animal and swimming quickly beside and under the animal, while others come down from the chaser, rest in our end, and hunt along And sailing beside hunting, it is easy to reach 200 m [656 feet] she says. “It seems that blues is their goal.”
Brown said that at the same time, more orcas are coming, and soon “at least six nobita will be used in different pods.” She said that each pod can hold 6 to 12 orcas, so this indicates the number of orcas participating in this hunting activity. Even the little orca that is still yellow and red- Color that may come from blood vessels Brown said that this has not been concealed by the thick grease.
Orca, as a large group, carried blue whales from the Bremen Canyon System approximately 3,280 feet (1,000 m) deep to the shallower continental shelf, which was only 262 feet (80 m) deep. Brown heard “When the orc pushed the blue forward, there were cracks and tail slaps on it, and a clicking sound and sound came from below.”
Unlike the blue whale, the orca has teeth, which are the weapons they use to chop off the jawbone of this blue whale. Brown said: “When the whale spins and turns, the orca sticks to it. They want its tongue.”[They] Waiting for the jaw to release, but not. “
related: Photo: Pilot whale in trouble in the Everglades
The blue whale fought to the end. Brown said: “It will not give up, it has fallen, and for a while we think it has passed. Its tail rises again and again, thick and silver in the dark ocean, surrounded by black and thunderous fins. .” Said.
Brown said that after a few hours of this “frenzy and chaotic” hunt before 3 pm local time, the blue whale succumbed to its attacker. She recalled: “Blood came out of the water like a red balloon.” Brown said that after that, the orcas would “share the body with all those involved in depth.” “We saw some fat, only a mass of meat, it disappeared.”
Hammerhead sharks and albacore whales (another species of marine dolphins) try to grab some whale meat, but orcas vigorously protect their prey.On the ship, “some customers [were] Tears, some shocked silence, some excitement and curiosity. “Brown said.
Brown told Live Science in an e-mail that this was the third orca fishing of a blue whale recorded by Naturaliste Charters.She said: “These two are in April 2019, two weeks apart.” In 2020, “Due to COVID-19, our last season was shortened, so when the blue whale migrated from north to north, we were not at sea. Antarctica (Mid-March, April, May), so we don’t know if the same happened last year. “
Originally published in “Life Science”.
Source link
