Tourists see pod of orca trap and kill whale off WA coast
Whale watchers have witnessed the ferocity of nature in the ocean off Western Australia's south coast.
A pod of orcas, also known as killer whales, stalked, trapped and then devoured a lone beaked whale in an hour-long feeding frenzy.
The pod of 40 orcas surrounded their outnumbered prey, a young cuvier beaked whale, in the Southern Ocean off Bremer Bay.
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A pod of orcas, also known as killer whales stalked trapped and then devoured a lone beaked whale in an hour-long feeding frenzy. Nine
"They stop it from diving, because that's the only defence of these beaked whale," Gemma Sharp from Whale Watching Western Australia explained.
The young cuvier starts to tire as the killer whales close in, pushing their lunch down into the water before going in for the kill.
"The whole family basically leans on top of the beaked whale, submerges them and attempts to drown or suffocate that individual," Sharp said.
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The young cuvier starts to tire as the killer whales close in, pushing their lunch down into the water before going in for the kill. Supplied
"For our guests onboard it was certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Every year, nearly 200 killer whales are drawn to WA's coastline.
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