https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/orcas-can-kill-blue-whales-the-biggest-animal-on-earth National Geographic Logo - Home Skip to content * * * Renew * Subscribe * Menu [png] Orcas (seen above in the Caribbean) live in family groups that work together to hunt. Photograph by Brian Skerry, Nat Geo Image Collection Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. * Animals Orcas found to kill blue whales, the largest animals on Earth, for first time The discovery may actually signal good news for both species, experts say. ByClaudia Geib Published January 26, 2022 * 6 min read ShareTweetEmail It begins with a chase: Twelve orcas swimming down their quarry until it grows tired. When their target finally slows, more orcas join in, 20 sets of teeth raking and biting into flesh. A few minutes later, the predators work together to force their prey underwater. It doesn't come back up. This is no average hunt. The scene, observed off Bremer Bay in southwestern Australia, is the first time humans have documented orcas, also known as killer whales, successfully hunting and eating an endangered blue whale, the largest animal that has ever lived. In all, scientists describe three blue whale killings, in March and April of 2019 and March of 2021, in a new study published this week in the journal Marine Mammal Science. "This is the biggest predation event on this planet: the biggest apex predator taking down the biggest prey," says study co-author Robert Pitman, a marine ecologist at Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute. "We don't have dinosaurs anymore, so for me as a whale biologist and a zoologist it's an amazing thing." People have documented killer whales feeding on nearly every other species of large whale worldwide, though most attacks have been on calves. Increasingly, these accounts come from amateur observers with cellphones or drones: In one such drone video, taken in 2017 off Monterey, California, killer whales attacked a blue whale, but did not kill it. [yH5BAEAAAA] 1:13 Watch rare drone footage of orcas charging a blue whale "It was just a matter of time before an observation like this would be made," says David Donnelly, a marine researcher with Australia's Dolphin Research Institute, who runs the citizen-science project Killer Whales Australia. And the odds were good that it would happen in Bremer Bay, he says, since orcas can be reliably found there year after year. Bremer Bay's seafloor features a deep canyon that gushes cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface and supports an extraordinarily diverse food chain--from phytoplankton to southern bluefin tuna to salmon all the way up to sperm whales, rare beaked whales, and numerous shark species. (Read about orcas that kill great white sharks.) "Anything that passes through that region might end up in a killer whale's mouth," says Donnelly, who was not involved with the new study. Teamwork is key In two of the hunts, killer whales targeted young animals, including a calf and what seemed to be a year-old juvenile. During the third, the killer whales took down an apparently healthy adult, between 60 and 70 feet long. The largest killer whales measure only about 30 feet. Scientists didn't get a chance to sample any of the hunted whales, but based on the time of year, location, and direction the whales were moving, the team surmised they were migrating pygmy blue whales, a smaller subspecies that nonetheless grows to about 79 feet in length. So how does a killer whale overcome an animal more than twice its size? It's a family matter: Killer whales live in closely knit pods, led by their grandmothers, mothers, or aunts. The whales learn from each other and cooperate to survive. For instance, up to 50 individuals participated in the chase during these hunts, and multiple smaller groups worked together, often swapping roles, to bite at and eventually drown their prey. (See how orcas work together to whip up a meal.) "These killer whale groups live for human life spans or longer, and so they hunt together cooperatively for decades and decades," Pitman says, comparing the whales' hunting strategy to that of wolves. "You can learn a lot about how to work together when you practice together as a team." [yH5BAEAAAA] An orca bites into the tongue--a favorite food--of a blue whale calf. This orca, likely an adult female, was involved in all three attacks described in the research paper. Photograph by John Daw, Australian Wildlife Journeys Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Good news for both? To Pitman, these hunts may also signal a positive step for both species' populations. The global population of killer whales, which live in all the world's oceans, is unknown. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the blue whale as endangered due to aggressive whaling throughout the 1900s, but their numbers have steadily increased since the 1960s, when the species was globally protected. Worldwide, there may be between 5,000 and 15,000 blue whales alive today, the IUCN estimates. Pitman says it's possible that killer whales have always dined on blue whales, but when the latter's numbers plummeted during the age of whaling, killer whales had to switch to different prey. (Learn more about the secret culture of orcas.) So these newly observed hunts, he adds, may be evidence of killer whales returning to an ancient habit as an old food source returns. Pitman thinks it's unlikely that killer whale attacks will pose an existential threat to blue whales' recovery, though he does expect these incidents will increase as both populations expand their numbers. He's also intrigued to see how killer whales could shift the dynamics of the marine ecosystem in Western Australia. For instance, some whales, such as humpbacks and bowheads, may plot their entire migration routes to avoid killer whales. "Nobody that's alive on Earth today has ever seen what the ocean looked like before we started whaling," Pitman says. Australia's killer whales may be offering a glimpse of how the ocean used to be--teeth and all. ShareTweetEmail --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Read This Next Refugees bring their stories to the world with cameras [yH5BAEAAAA] * History & Culture Refugees bring their stories to the world with cameras Migrants in Greece share their harrowing and human experiences through photos and film. Sexually transmitted infections seem to be on the rise [yH5BAEAAAA] * Science * Coronavirus Coverage Sexually transmitted infections seem to be on the rise Experts warn that diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis seem to be on the rise because routine testing was deferred in the midst of staffing and supply shortages. This 1882 surveying error saved a patch of forest from logging [yH5BAEAAAA] * Travel This 1882 surveying error saved a patch of forest from logging On 144 acres of Northern Minnesota wilderness, travelers can glimpse a rare old-growth forest. The Maldives is being swallowed by the sea. Can it adapt? [yH5BAEAAAA] * Environment The Maldives is being swallowed by the sea. Can it adapt? Whether or not the Maldives can survive climate change, the country will never be the same. Go Further Animals * How scientists are helping tiny owls find new homes + Animals How scientists are helping tiny owls find new homes * Orcas found to kill blue whales for first time + Animals Orcas found to kill blue whales for first time * Endangered wolf's migration blocked by the border wall + Animals Endangered wolf's migration blocked by the border wall * Siberian tigers are being hunted at night for their body parts + Animals + Wildlife Watch Siberian tigers are being hunted at night for their body parts * The endangered axolotl has found fame--is that enough to save it? + Animals + Planet Possible The endangered axolotl has found fame--is that enough to save it? * Giraffe populations are rising, giving new hope to scientists + Animals Giraffe populations are rising, giving new hope to scientists Environment * Extreme drought creates unlikely farming allies in Arizona + Environment + Planet Possible Extreme drought creates unlikely farming allies in Arizona * What climate change means for the future of coffee + Environment What climate change means for the future of coffee * U.S. corn output is booming, but not for the reasons hoped + Environment U.S. corn output is booming, but not for the reasons hoped * The Maldives is being swallowed by the sea. Can it adapt? + Environment The Maldives is being swallowed by the sea. Can it adapt? * The high-altitude quest to save alpacas + Environment + Planet Possible The high-altitude quest to save alpacas * Biodiversity in the Okavango Basin + Paid Content Biodiversity in the Okavango Basin History & Culture * Why Lunar New Year prompts the world's largest annual migration + History & Culture Why Lunar New Year prompts the world's largest annual migration * Who was Anne Frank? Why her legacy is still fought over today + History & Culture Who was Anne Frank? Why her legacy is still fought over today * Sparta's last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae + History Magazine Sparta's last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae * The Doomsday Clock is now 75--and it's still ticking + History & Culture The Doomsday Clock is now 75--and it's still ticking * Who wore the golden pectoral of Monte Alban? + History Magazine Who wore the golden pectoral of Monte Alban? * How MLK's multifaceted view on human rights still inspires + History & Culture + Race in America How MLK's multifaceted view on human rights still inspires Science * The pandemic likely made the rise of superbugs worse + Science + Coronavirus Coverage The pandemic likely made the rise of superbugs worse * World's brightest x-rays reveal COVID-19's damage to the body, Video Story + Science + Coronavirus Coverage World's brightest x-rays reveal COVID-19's damage to the body * Sexually transmitted infections seem to be on the rise + Science + Coronavirus Coverage Sexually transmitted infections seem to be on the rise * Why kids under 5 still can't get a COVID-19 vaccine + Science + Coronavirus Coverage Why kids under 5 still can't get a COVID-19 vaccine * Mystery surrounds the volcanic explosion in Tonga + Science Mystery surrounds the volcanic explosion in Tonga * Is a universal coronavirus vaccine on the horizon? + Science + Coronavirus Coverage Is a universal coronavirus vaccine on the horizon? Travel * New tools help make COVID-19 travel safer + Travel + Coronavirus Coverage New tools help make COVID-19 travel safer * Why Southern California is the ideal surfing spot for all ages + Travel + Family Why Southern California is the ideal surfing spot for all ages * 'Nanobubbles' and tour boats could rescue this Mexican wetland + Travel + Planet Possible 'Nanobubbles' and tour boats could rescue this Mexican wetland * This 1882 surveying error saved a patch of forest from logging + Travel This 1882 surveying error saved a patch of forest from logging * Should you buy carbon offsets for your air travel? + Travel Should you buy carbon offsets for your air travel? * How cruise lines are adapting to COVID-19 in the age of Omicron + Travel + Coronavirus Coverage How cruise lines are adapting to COVID-19 in the age of Omicron Subscriber Exclusive Content previous * Magazine Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars? Read * Magazine How viruses shape our world Read * Animals The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end Read * Magazine See how people have imagined life on Mars through history Read * Magazine See how NASA's new Mars rover will explore the red planet Explore * Magazine Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars? Read * Magazine How viruses shape our world Read * Animals The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end Read * Magazine See how people have imagined life on Mars through history Read * Magazine See how NASA's new Mars rover will explore the red planet Explore * Magazine Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars? Read * Magazine How viruses shape our world Read * Animals The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end Read * Magazine See how people have imagined life on Mars through history Read * Magazine See how NASA's new Mars rover will explore the red planet Explore next See More Legal * Terms of Use * Privacy Policy * Your California Privacy Rights * Children's Online Privacy Policy * Interest-Based Ads * About Nielsen Measurement * Do Not Sell My Info Our Sites * Nat Geo Home * Attend a Live Event * Book a Trip * Buy Maps * Inspire Your Kids * Shop Nat Geo * Visit the D.C. Museum * Watch TV * Learn About Our Impact * Support our Mission * Nat Geo Partners * Masthead * Press Room * Advertise With Us Join Us * Subscribe * Customer Service * Renew Subscription * Manage Your Subscription * Work at Nat Geo * Sign up for Our Newsletters * Contribute to Protect the Planet * Pitch a Story Follow us National Geographic FacebookNational Geographic TwitterNational Geographic Instagram United States (Change) --------------------------------------------------------------------- National Geographic Logo - Home Copyright (c) 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright (c) 2015-2022 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved