Featured Image Credit: Rebecca Wellard/CMST Curtain University
By: Laura O’Brien
Whale watchers witnessed a unique and powerful display of nature in Bremer Bay, Australia, when orca whales attacked a species of whale that is not seen often by humans. The whale that was attacked by the orcas was a Cuvier’s beaked whale, which can dive can dive to 10,000 ft (3,000 m), whereas orca whales only dive to about 328 ft (100 m). The Cuvier beaked whale’s ability to dive to such depths relies on their ability to hold their breath for over two hours, and their infrequent need to return to the surface for air results in few opportunities for humans to spot the whales.
The whale-watching group that spotted the encounter was originally observing a pod of orcas. When the pod took off, the vessel followed. Billy Thom, a deckhand for Naturaliste Charters, recalled, “they started porpoising, which is an efficient way of moving through the water at a fast speed”. The pod descended upon a scene of over fifty orcas surrounding a wounded Cuvier’s beaked whale. Birds were circling over another pod that was closely following the bleeding whale. The pods worked together to kill the lone Cuvier’s beaked whale, then shared the fruits of their labor.
Bianca Uyen, Naturaliste Charters Marine Biologist, said the attack was, “the very first on the Cuvier’s beaked whale that we’ve ever seen”. Uyen continued, “we also haven’t seen as many orcas involved in a single predation either”. Multiple orca predations have been spotted this year, including predations on other types of beaked whale; however, this attack was particularly noteworthy due to the circumstances. Bremer Bay has earned a reputation for its biodiversity. Despite the grisly nature of the attack, it is an excellent example of what Bremer Bay has to offer scientists and visitors in terms of biological observation opportunities.
Learn more from our sources, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-04/orcas-filmed-hunting-cuvier-beaked-whale-for-first-time/9618202 , and https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/naturalist-charters-capture-moment-orcas-gang-up-on-lone-whale-off-bremer-bay-ng-b88792338z