How Do Orcas Kill Prey

How do orcas hunt? Herding fish before stunning them with tail strikes is one of many ways in which these predators hunt their prey. As highly intelligent predators, orcas also work together in coordinated attacks to create waves that can knock prey off floating ice into the water.

Do killer whales drown their prey?

Orcas adapt their strategies depending on their prey. Orcas primarily prey on young gray whale calves, which are vigorously defended by their mothers. … When the orcas do catch a grey whale, they will kill it by drowning, holding the whale’s blowhole underwater until it expires. At this point, the key is timing.

How do orcas kill whales?

Unlike the baleen blue whale, orcas have teeth, a weapon they used to chomp down on this blue whale’s jaw. “As the whale spun and turned, the orcas held on — they wanted its tongue,” Brown said. “[They] were waiting for the jaw to release, but it would not.” The blue whale fought until the end.