Post #3048393
2025-08-03 15:23 UTC
Replies (5)
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@paninid@mastodon.world 2025-08-03 15:24
@futurebird@sauropods.win That’s further down in the thread: the whales do this to protect their own calves from orcas.
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@llewelly@sauropods.win 2025-08-03 15:27
@futurebird@sauropods.win @paninid@mastodon.world yes. "Orcas also prey on larger species such as sperm whales, grey whales, humpback whales and minke whales.[84][41] On three separate occasions in 2019 orcas were recorded to have killed blue whales off the south coast of Western Australia, including an estimated 18–22-meter (59–72 ft) individual.[89] Large whales require much effort and coordination to kill and orcas often target calves." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca#Mammals_and_birds
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@karlauerbach@sfba.social 2025-08-03 16:34
@futurebird@sauropods.win @paninid@mastodon.world Here in the Monterey Bay (California) we have a lot of Orcas and a lot of true whales such as Greys (which migrate past the bay twice a year) humpbacks (which seem ever-present), blues on occasion. And lots and lots of seals and sea lions and otters, etc. (The Monterey Bay is an amazing place for sea life. And from the shore one can often see whales spouting or their heads and flukes.) The grays, which are relatively small compared to humbacks, swim on courses intended to avoid the Orcas. Orcas seem to be rather mean critters - I hear that they attack (and presumably eat) the great white sharks around here.
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@stekopf@mstdn.social 2025-08-03 17:30
@futurebird@sauropods.win @paninid@mastodon.world I saw a documentary once about orcas attacking a mother whale (likely a humpback but not sure) en route with her calve. She tried to shield it from them but she was finally exhausted and the calve was to slow to escape. It was heartbreaking to see how she had to abandon her child. The theory at Wikipedia about their ancient predator-prey-history is interesting:
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@skua@mastodon.social 2025-08-04 03:58
@futurebird@sauropods.win @paninid@mastodon.world At the skin cancer clinic waiting for ... moderate alterations to my birthday suit. And what's on the waiting room TV but a doco about Monteray Bay orcas hunting and killing and eating a(nother) baby whale! But my "calm and relaxed" frame of mind? With crows demonstrating long term memory of "crow-harmers", and our horses having galloped over a staffy who had the week before done "Staffy bites horse's nose" I'm sure the whales are pissed & looking for revenge.