Orca double Beaked Whale predation unfolded today as matriarch Queen worked with fellow matriarchs Alki and Cheryl to succeed in a hugely successful double predation event. Arriving in The Patch we were all very excited for the search and to see what our Orca family had been up to while we had waited for the weather to pass through. Sure enough there they were, multiple blows just ahead and moving powerfully with speed. A hunt was underway as Queen and her family pursued the Beaked Whale, but it was only a juvenile and very quickly the Orca were in control and completed the hunt quickly. The family gathered and began to feed around us as they showed off their meal and savoured every little bit before Queen directed them onwards and the whole family moved steadily along with Alki to the west.
During the journey we were entertained with the excitement and happiness that often will come after a hunt as the family breached, tail slapped, wrestled and fed on the food they were carrying during the travel. Queen led the way but came over to share the last of what remained of their meal as she circled around us before just drifting underneath our vessel the Steep Point, motionless and looking back up towards us it is something she has done before. A special interaction like this with Queen is always treasured and we were very grateful to spend some special time with her today. She continued onwards but a little while later into their journey matriarchs Alki and Cheryl had found something and made the call, Queen and her pod turned and charged back to the east at high speed! Surging to cover ground, we could see the Orca everywhere we looked as they did their best to catchup with the prey they were pursuing.
It was a big chase with many orca involved which meant it was going to be very difficult for this unfortunate Beaked Whale to escape. Closing in the distance the Orca were now cutting off escape paths and very quickly they had control of the hunt. Although this Cuvier’s Beaked Whale was much larger than the juvenile from the earlier morning hunt, the efficiency of the kill was evidence of how much hunting the Orca have been doing lately as it was all over in a matter of minutes. The feeding began as all three family pods were well rewarded for their teamwork and when successful in targeting larger prey there is more food for everyone. Shearwaters and Albatross scrambled for surface scraps while the shadows of marauding sharks could be seen below the Orca. There is never any waste after the hunt, every living creature nearby who can benefit from an Orca’s meal will gather and be attracted to the area by the scent of oil, blood and the Orca vocalisations heard during the hunt.
Graphic Content Warning: Beaked Whale Predation
