Sat Apr 12 03:20:06 UTC 2025: ## Rare Sight: Orcas Kill Endangered Pygmy Blue Whale off Western Australia
**Bremer Bay, Western Australia –** A whale watching tour off the coast of Bremer Bay witnessed a rare and dramatic event on Monday, April 7th: a pod of over 60 orcas successfully hunted and killed an 18-meter-long pygmy blue whale in Bremer Canyon. This marks only the fourth recorded instance of orcas preying on a blue whale in the area.
The endangered pygmy blue whale, a smaller subspecies of the blue whale, was relentlessly pursued by the orca pod. According to Naturaliste Charters Whale Watching, the attack lasted less than 40 minutes, with over 30 orcas at one point converging on the struggling whale. Following the successful hunt, the orcas celebrated with breaches and tail slaps.
“This is an extraordinary reminder of their role as apex predators in the ocean,” stated Naturaliste Charters in a press release. The incident highlights the orcas’ sophisticated hunting techniques and their ability to overcome even the largest marine mammals.
The event comes after recent scientific documentation of orcas hunting whale sharks, the world’s largest shark species, using a novel collaborative hunting method in the Pacific Ocean. These incidents showcase the adaptability and diverse diet of these apex predators, whose hunting strategies often involve coordinated teamwork. While orcas typically feed on fish, penguins and sea lions, these recent events demonstrate their ability to successfully hunt much larger prey.
First Piper 