A new research paper describes an interesting behavior that scientists recently observed (and filmed) in the wild—orcas pulverizing a large sunfish by ramming into it. Footage released by one of the study’s authors, Katy Ayres, is circulating widely and shocking many.
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“New Paper Alert,” wrote Ayres in her Instagram post sharing the video. “[. . . ] We described two events in which orcas use a ram-to-fragment strategy to smash a sharp-tail sunfish to bits!”
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The footage shows one orca holding onto the sunfish while another runs into it, blowing it to bits. As to why the orcas are doing this, the scientists suggest this “ram-to-fragment” behavior could serve a couple of purposes. First, by pulverizing a large prey item into smaller pieces, it could be a strategy for allowing younger orcas to practice foraging for food. Or, the scientists say it could just be all for fun.
Either way, this behavior requires coordination and cooperation, and orcas excel at both.
Watch orcas pulverize a sunfish below (or see it here).
Read the full research study here.
Header stock image by Cavan Images / Raffi Maghdessian/Getty Images
