See First Ever Video of an Orca Mother and Son Killing a Calf
Published 29 Mar 2018, 16:43 BST
See First Ever Video of an Orca Mother and Son Killing a Calf
This is the first reported account of an adult male orca and its mother killing the calf of an unrelated female. Researchers suggest the behaviour was sexually motivated. The adult male took the calf by the tail and dived deep underwater ... while its mother blocked the calf’s mother from pursuing its child.
The male orca drowned the calf in hopes the young mother would then be willing to mate. This behaviour isn't so rare in the animal kingdom. Lions, rodents, and even primates have been known to do this, too.
explore videos
Animals1:34
Elephant Calf Acts Tough On Camera
Animals0:57
Sneaky Turtles Sunbathe on a Hippo's Back
Animals1:44
Camels Don't Mind Spines In Their Cacti
You might also like
How Killer Whales Went from Hated, to Adored, to Endangered
These 'skydiving' salamanders survive leaps from the world’s tallest trees
How predators get past the trickiest of defences
Can snakes recognise themselves? A controversial study says yes
These tiny spiders perform a synchronised pop-and-lock 'dance' as they hunt