[Animals] Orcas documented for the first time hunting the largest animal in the world

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The researchers compare the hunting strategy of 'killer whales' with that of wolves.

 

 

A team of researchers has succeeded in documenting killer whales for the first time hunting and feeding on the world's largest animals: blue whales, according to a new study published in the journal Marine Mammal Science. Scientists recorded three kills of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) off Bremer Bay in southwestern Australia; two in the first quarter of 2019 and one in March 2021. Killer whales ('Orcinus orca') hunt almost all species of whales and even before these scenes they had been observed attacking young specimens of 'B. musculus', but without actually killing them. "This is the largest predation event on the planet: the apex predator taking down the largest prey," said Robert Pitman, a marine ecologist at Oregon State University (USA) and a co-author of the study, quoted by National Geographic. .

 

A good sign

In these killings, two of the prey were young specimens, but the third was an adult, apparently healthy, about 20 meters long. The largest killer whales reach about 9 meters in length. These animals, also known as 'killer whales', live in pods and in the three hunts, the researchers counted up to 50 individuals involved in the pursuit of blue whales, as well as several smaller groups exchanging roles in the attack.

 

PRovided by: https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/418533-documentan-primera-vez-orcas-cazando-ballenas-azules