[Article initialement publié en mars 2024]
However, this does not mean that the sperm whale is never attacked by other species. Orca attacks against sperm whales are rare, but not nonexistent. Sometimes the orcas are so hungry that they attack more than they.
It is not so much the adult tooth cetaceans that fear the orcas, but rather juvenile and older individuals. The orcas then target a herd of sperm whales trying to isolate the weak animal to eat it.
These scenes are so exceptional that it is rare to be able to observe them. The passengers of a naturalist charter shipping ship in Australia had the chance to attend. Biologist Jennah Tucker who was on board took the opportunity to observe the behavior of animals.
The hungry orcas do not hesitate to target sperm whales which are at the top of the food chain
The incredible incident occurred on March 19, 2024 on the occasion of a routine shipment which allows you to admire the orcas in their natural habitat. It took place in Bremer Canyon, a deep water ecosystem where orcas can be easily observed. Bremer Canyon is off the coast of Western Australia.
As the Organizer of the expedition explains in a Facebook post, it is the first time since the beginning of the year that orcas have been seen there. An orca began to gain speed and continue something. Suddenly, “dozens of orcas arose from the West, all heading in the same direction as us”.
The ship's passengers therefore expected to see ziphiidae. These are tooth cetaceans that look like large dolphins. It turns out that it is also one of the favorite dishes of orcas. Only here, passengers quickly admitted that they were sperm whales on the horizon.
They discovered a herd of 5 sperm whales, one being smaller than the others. The orcas were therefore probably in pursuit of this juvenile cetacean. You should know that the hungry orcas are deadly. They can form groups of several dozen individuals to go hunting.
The sperm whales attacked by the orcas were out of breath, but not short of defensive technique
Coming back to the Australian expedition, it was obvious that the sperm whales were already on the verge of exhaustion. “The hacker group seemed to be in distress and exhausted. They were grouped into a tight group, taking out the end of their heads out of the water and letting violent blows escape while they were trying to catch their breath, ”explains naturalist charters.
The orcas began to swim in tight circles around the sperm whales that tried to repel them with their tail beats. One of the biggest sperm whales then emerged from the surface with a wide open mouth revealing its teeth.
At the same time, a dark bubble also rose to the surface. The ship's passengers thought they saw blood. They feared that a sperm whale was killed by an orca. In reality, the orcas have moved away from the group of sperm whales which always stayed very tight against each other.
A cloud of diarrhea immediately made the Orcs flee
In fact, the expedition assisted without knowing it with a demonstration of “defensive diarrhea”. It was not a blood bubble that rose to the surface, but a cloud of excrement. Haks often defecate when they feel threatened. They then create a cloud of fecal matter by waving their tail.
The orcas apparently did not expect such in -depth defense techniques. They therefore preferred to retreat to hunt smaller prey and above all easier.
Source : Naturalist Charters Bremer Canyon Killer Whale and Pelagic Expeditions
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
