MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. – Usually, when we share videos of wildlife or nature, it doesn’t end in bloodshed, but a stunning video posted online recently shows a bloody mess when killer whales attacked two gray whales.
The video was taken by Evan Brodsky, a photographer with Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
The caption reads: “GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: More from Thursday’s incredible attack with over 30 killer whales on 2 ADULT gray whales. At the end, the badly wounded gray whales escaped to the shallow waters towards the beach, and the Orcas backed down.”
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The graphic content warning is warranted. While it is nature running its course, the scene isn’t pretty. The attack, as captured on video, is longer than two and a half minutes. The Chronicle interviewed Brodsky, who captured this rare event with help from a drone. He said his heart was beating out of his chest and that the attack actually lasted more like five hours.
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If you’ve been following Monterey Bay Whale Watch’s Instagram page, you’d know that ‘killer whale season’ is just about here, as they’ve even pinpointed it to April 7 through May 15 for their tours. “Killer whales are seen more frequently during the mom/calf Gray Whale migration during April and May,” they explain.
Indeed, the orca’s prey includes other marine mammals such as; sea lions, dolphins and gray whale calves. However, a marine biologist told the newspaper an attack by orcas on adult gray whales is quite stunning and a rare occurrence.