Baby killer whales seen ‘having fun’ while practicing hunting off California. See it

Onlookers got to see a glimpse of baby orcas off the coast of California.

Two older killer whale calves were spotted Oct. 5 “having fun” while practicing their hunting skills on a seabird, according to a Facebook post by the Monterey Bay Whale Watch.

The killer whales were with their pod, CA51As, during the “fantastic” encounter, watchers said.

Killer whales, known as the ocean’s top predators, are “highly social” and live in pods where they communicate with one another through “clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Their diet depends on where they live, experts said. U.S. Pacific Northwest killer whales eat fish, while transients eat marine mammals and squid.

Viewers said the sight might seem “cruel,” but these practices are “essential” for babies to learn how to survive.

Monterey is about a 120-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.

This story was originally published October 8, 2024 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Baby killer whales seen ‘having fun’ while practicing hunting off California. See it."