Current:Home > Scams"Rarely seen" killer whales spotted hunting sea lions off California coast-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
"Rarely seen" killer whales spotted hunting sea lions off California coast
View Date:2024-12-23 19:30:04
Orcas that are "rarely seen" were caught on camera hunting sea lions off the California coast this week, the Monterey Bay Whale Watch said on Wednesday.
The "absolutely fantastic whale watching day" included seeing eight orcas hunting multiple sea lions on Tuesday, the whale watch said in a post on Facebook. The California Killer Whale Project, which tags and identifies killer whales in the area, identified some of the whales, and identified them as individual whales that do not make frequent appearances. One of the whales was a calf traveling with its mother, the Monterey Bay Whale Watch said.
The group said that they witnessed the whales leaping out of the water, breaching the surface and slapping their tails as they hunted the sea lions before traveling "very fast to the northwest."
A video that the Monterey Bay Whale Watch said was taken by a drone shows the orcas preying on the sea lion. The video may be disturbing, the whale watch said, but shows "a very important part of nature and the ecosystem." It's also rare to document such events, the whale watch said.
Beyond the orcas and sea lions, the whale watch also recorded seeing 50 Risso's dolphins, a type of blunt-headed dolphin common along the California coast. Orcas do hunt these dolphins, but the whale watch did not say they had been preyed on by the killer whales seen on Tuesday.
Nancy Black, the owner of the Monterey Bay Whale Watch, director of the California Killer Whale Project, and a marine biologist, previously told CBS Sacramento that orcas seen in California are more commonly found in the deep ocean canyon beneath Monterey Bay. Because the canyon is close to the beach, it's possible to see the orcas from the shore in some cases, Black said at the time.
Monterey Bay is about 75 miles south of San Francisco.
- In:
- Oceans
- Whales
- California
Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
TwitterveryGood! (592)
Related
- Early Black Friday Deals: 70% Off Apple, Dyson, Tarte, Barefoot Dreams, Le Creuset & More + Free Shipping
- The Voice Debuts First Coaches Photo With Reba McEntire After Blake Shelton's Exit
- James Middleton's Comments About His Relationship With Sister Kate Middleton Are Royally Relatable
- Separate boat crashes in Cape Cod and the Ozarks leave 1 dead, 13 injured: Police
- NY forest ranger dies fighting fires as air quality warnings are issued in New York and New Jersey
- Why Taylor Lautner Says Hanging With Wife Tay and Ex Taylor Swift Was the Perfect Situation
- The Unsolved Murder of Tupac Shakur: Untangling the Many Conspiracy Theories About the Rapper's Death
- Iran’s hijab law brings united front among country’s women
- How Alex Jones’ Infowars wound up in the hands of The Onion
- Former reverend arrested for 1975 murder of 8-year-old girl
Ranking
- Inter Miami's MLS playoff failure sets stage for Messi's last act, Alexi Lalas says
- Gilgo Beach murders: Police searching suspect's walk-in vault
- Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 for the Best Home Deals: Dyson, Barefoot Dreams & More
- Love Island U.K.'s Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury Engaged After Welcoming Baby
- Golden Bachelorette: Joan Vassos Gets Engaged During Season Finale
- Not Sure How To Clean Your Dishwasher and Washing Machine? These Pods Will Last a Whole Year
- MrBeast YouTuber Kris Tyson Comes Out as Transgender
- Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Welcome to Wrexham Scores Season 2 Premiere Date
Recommendation
-
NFL power rankings Week 11: Steelers, Eagles enjoying stealthy rises
-
Why Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling Are the Perfect Barbie and Ken
-
Kylie Jenner Sets Record Straight on Plastic Surgery Misconceptions
-
Get a $20 Deal on $98 Worth of Skincare From Peter Thomas Roth, Sunday Riley, Benefit, Elemis, and More
-
Chiefs block last-second field goal to save unbeaten record, beat Broncos
-
Woman found dead after suspected bear encounter near Yellowstone
-
Coast Guard searching for cruise passenger who jumped overboard
-
Nordstrom Clear the Rack Last Day to Shop: Jaw-Dropping Deals Including $3 Swimsuits