Orcas attack a gray whale off the coast of Monterey in March 2023.
KSBW/CourtesyThis story originally appeared on KSBW.
MONTEREY BAY, Calif. — Rare footage of orcas attacking adult grey whales was captured in Monterey Bay on Thursday. Evan Brodsky caught the attack with a drone while at sea with Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Brodsky said he counted more than 30 orcas, often referred to as killer whales, attacking the two adult gray whales and attempting to eat them alive.
While not unheard of, it is very uncommon for orcas to attack adult gray whales, as they usually attack the more vulnerable calves.
It was too early in the season for the orcas to attack the calves as they have not yet come through the region this season. Brodsky said the attack lasted for 6 hours before the gray whales split up and fled to shallower waters.
According to Monterey Bay Whale Watch, gray whales and orcas are most commonly seen off the Central Coast from January to March. As we transition from late spring into early summer, humpback whales and blue whales will become the predominant sighting.