Get ready to see a humongous killer whale hunting a dolphin. This short 13-second video shows a killer whale doing what they do best, hunting. The craziest part? The whale and dolphin come within a few feet of several boaters! Not big whale-watching boats either, small personal-sized boats. What an exciting yet terrifying experience that would be! Killer whales or orcas are a type of marine mammal. They’re the biggest dolphin family members and belong to the sub-order of toothed whales (odontocetes). They have a distinctive black-and-white coloration pattern that can help you identify them in the wild. This video is the perfect opportunity to appreciate the whale’s unique patterning. It jumps completely out of the water! First, the action kicks off when you see a whale pop out of the water. It zooms past the boats and the camera person has to quickly adjust to keep them in the frame. Although you can’t see it yet, the orca is barrelling toward a tasty dolphin. These whales can reach impressive speeds of 33.5 mph and have superb endurance. In the wild, pods of orcas travel vast distances – over 99 miles (160 kilometers) every day – to hunt and socialize. Next, the dolphin jumps out of the water, trying to get to safety. However, the killer whale is too big and too fast! The marine beast lunges out of the water and nearly decks the dolphin! It’s a close miss, as the dolphin and orca end up falling back into the water. They create a big splash, and come within a few feet of landing on the boats! The dolphin in this video got lucky; orcas usually don’t miss. They’re such good hunters that they can impact other species’ population numbers. Alaska is investigating the potential role killer whales may play in the declining stellar sea lion population. The passengers probably had a few concerns when they considered what might happen if the orcas decided to tip the boats over. This species has a long history with humans, having been given the name “killer whale” by ancient sailors who observed their predatory behavior. Fortunately, everyone was able to enjoy this fantastic sight without any danger. Whales jump out of the water because air is less dense than water. Porpoising, or jumping out of the water, is a way for them to gain speed. Plus, swimming in the air than takes less energy than swimming in the water. The high-speed jump gives whales an edge when hunting for food. Even after a successful hunt, jumping can be a way of celebrating and socializing. Younger whales in the pod sometimes jump to practice for future hunts or to enjoy the moment of being alive! Watch a dolphin swim for its life, only to come face to face with a killer whale. Check out the video below to see for yourself!
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