While exploring the area around San Clemente Island off the coast of Southern California earlier this week, three friends were stunned when an orca leapt into the air while hunting a smaller dolphin. One of the friends caught the spectacular moment on video. It’s incredible to see how powerful these ocean predators really are.
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Domenic Biagini posted the video to Instagram, saying the group was in the area checking out a bunch of dolphins and birds feeding alongside a humpback whale. Suddenly, there was a dolphin stampede, in which a large group of dolphins takes off at top speed in the same direction. And then, the largest dolphin in the ocean—an orca—absolutely exploded from the water, slamming into one of the smaller dolphins and even soaring above a seabird.
Biagini says the orca rocketed more than 20 feet into the air in pursuit of its breakfast.
See an orca leap while hunting a dolphin here:
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