Orcas hunting dolphins in San Diego!

The above videos shows how a group of orcas works together to hunt dolphins. During the hunt, the older whales try and teach the young whales how to participate, so while this may appear cruel, it is actually a vital teaching and bonding moment for the entire family!
You too can come whale watching with me in San Diego, by visiting www.gonewhalewatching.com
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[@TheIronTemplar93]

I was not prepared for just HOW MUCH BIGGER orcas were than their prey

[@psychonauty2020]

righr??!right??!! the dolphins are bigger than humans too, I keep trying to remember that

[@maxeo2644]

Most of these are baby dolphins 🤐. 89% sure.

[@lauramae.3948]

I read that orcas are 6-8 meters (19-26ishfeet) and around 6ish tons, compared to dolphins that range from 2-4m (6-13ish feet) and 100-200kg

[@LouiseHultcrantz]

Right? When I first watched this I was like "what is this? A megalodon size orca?"

[@Bunny11344]

I don’t support aquariums but went to one when I was a child on a school trip. Back then they had an orca and a dolphin. The orca as massive and amazing to watch tho she’s not there anymore I think they shipped her off to seaworld😢

[@tomtalker2000]

Many times the dolphins thought they eluded the massive Orca by turning on a dime. When the reality is the Orca did it on purpose for another of the pod to make the capture coming up from behind. It's incredible how intelligent these animals truly are.

[@Edgar52956]

flying drones made us so much more informed about the nature

[@gravel9270]

Not to mention that they are cheaper than filming via helicopters and planes.

[@stoolpigeon4285]

about nature

[@joelimkopi]

we need underwater drones next.

[@dkanev38]

If an orca decides you are food, you ARE! 😮

[@DolphinDroneDom]

Really feels true. At least in this area, I’ve never seen a dolphin get away…

[@kee7678]

I'm here in SD and go to Baja often. Such a thrill to ever see them. Major respect for their beauty, athleticism and intelligence. Scary cool.

[@Counter-StrikeGO]

I can say yes but I never see until now documented human hunted by killer whales. Which I wonder why too.

[@anthonygardner1934]

Facts

[@attiliofisher1094]

@@DolphinDroneDom because humans took already all the fishes, dolphins are not the food for them but there is nothing now in the ocean

[@blackpowder4016]

The poor mother having to leave her baby behind to be killed and eaten at 00:29 or be killed herself is heart-wrenching.

[@user-ky8du8lk7l]

That's some wild stuff. You can also see the orca is intentionally going slow too, giving the baby a false hope of getting away, only to take it away from it moments after.

[@shank1er]

Orcas are brutal. It's amazing how they learn from their mistakes, adjust and produce a winning strategy. The dolphins didn't stand a chance.

[@wg2923]

...so horrible...😢

[@abineliaskurian6981]

brutal means ? its nature ,there is nothing right or wrong , unless humanity describes it

[@NatzTalk]

Soooo smart

[@TracyS6309]

😢😢😢😢

[@daszieher]

@@wg2923 why? Orcas are feeding like we eat a steak. The circle of life.

[@ZepetoPreTeens]

The scariest part is it’s nowhere to hide 😩 they just have to keep swimming til the orcas don’t want them anymore and that’s not happening 🥴🥺

[@marcuscarana9240]

1:13 Rainbow of death.

[@ericasackrison]

This is insane! Seeing the dolphins all take off in a stampede to get away is just jaw dropping

[@gregcorrigan5111]

Your video is amazing! It is tough to watch, but it is how life plays out in the oceans with these beautiful creatures. The video really puts it in perspective how big orcas are compared to dolphins.

[@blackthought6133]

The frame at 1:15 where the orca is carrying the dolphin like a rag doll then blows out air causing a rainbow 🌈 to appear is very majestic !!!!!

[@NatzTalk]

Noticed this too! Glad it wasn't my imagination then!💛

[@maxeo2644]

"Damn Nature! You scary!"

[@tracybranson1699]

I love nature but this part of it I have mixed feelings about watching. And I get it.

[@cantforgetyou]

Dolphins do the same with smaller fish. Dolphins also hunt and play with their food before they eat it.

[@tracybranson1699]

@@cantforgetyou ya I know. My cat does that too but it’s something I don’t like to film and watch either. But you are so right about it’s just nature.

[@daszieher]

@@cantforgetyou what difference does that make? Do they "deserve" it because they also do "it"? Curious as to why you think that one thing justifies the other (at least that is the impression that I got). There are animals that get hunted and eaten, which do not exhibit a comparable feeding behaviour. I wouldn't apply human social moral values to determine interspecies behaviour. 😊

[@cantforgetyou]

@@daszieher It doesn't make a difference. My point is that a lot people find it 'sad' for in this case the dolphin, but it's not sad, it 's just nature. That's what I try to say.

[@adamsmith307]

And if a wild beast ate your child would you still say it's not sad - it's just nature? I don't think so

[@nicksttrs]

Damn orcas are some fascinating animals. The true Apex of the sea! Just sheer intelligence and wits

[@sab4793]

I beg to differ. They're serial killers. Nothing fascinating.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

​@sab4793 some orca "tribes" refuse to eat dolphins. Depends on the culture

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

​@sab4793 I mean some humans as well do morally repugnant things, doesn't mean all of em do

[@laceyfreeman2238]

I shouldnt have watched that...I love dolphins WAY TOO MUCH

[@GabGotti3]

Well orcas are dolphins too.

[@LJ_nowandalways]

Killer Whales are dolphins, so it's like eating your cousins.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

They are basically eating another 'race' especially considering their insane intelligence.. quite disturbing. Luckily, not a lot of pods hunt dolphins and for the most part they are off the menu, possibly for the same reason humans find this disturbing I'd wager.

[@williamswhistlepipes]

Just doesn’t sit right with me somehow. I mean dolphins get by eating fish……..it’s like they are eating their little brother 😮.

[@lisashiplett7659]

As maneuverable as those dolphins are it's amazing to see the burst of energy the orcas put forth to grab one. And to watch an orca show at her offspring how to catch one by stunning at first for him was amazing. As always, thank you for showing us sea life at its best. ❤

[@DolphinDroneDom]

It’s stamina! If the dolphins could maintain that pace they’d always win, but they tire much faster….

[@rocklover7437]

​@@DolphinDroneDomThe Dolphins that never put up much of a fight i guess they was exhausted. Kinda like a Cat playing with a Mouse

[@carolgershel7093]

@@DolphinDroneDom my name is Sarah i LOVE your videos can you please make more videos on killer whales soon please?

[@blackpajamas6600]

​@@rocklover7437It might not be that the dolphin didn't put up much of a fight - the dolphin might not have been *able* to. Given the length and/or sheer relentlessness of an orca hunt, I think many dolphins probably suffer broken ribs or ruptured organs or blunt-force head trauma after a crippling first strike. By that point they're walking (er, swimming) dead Sucks to imagine a dolphin, such an incredibly intelligent and emotionally complex creature, being not only mercilessly thrashed but used as a hunting lesson for an eager young orca, too.

[@daneg]

not directly related to your post, but I find that a lot of the footage on YT doesn't pick up until after the orcas have damaged the dolphins around the tail stock. obviously, it's easier to film at that point. same with sharks that have already been disoriented by a charge (I suppose?). there are also a lot of examples of full sized bottle nose dolphins trying to avoid the orcas by porpoising, and they get a rude awakening when the orca is able to follow them out of the water and ram them in the open air.

[@KingAragornIII]

This is orcas teaching their young to hunt and these are baby dolphins. The orcas separate the calves from the pod so that they’re easier “practice” for their young.

[@Daniel_Megaptera]

Of course it is very sad to see but it is fascinating at the same time!! Great footage and thank you so much for sharing these special moments!!!

[@DolphinDroneDom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@vanessacarbia3983]

@@DolphinDroneDom, was this, this past July?

[@cantforgetyou]

Dolphins do the same with smaller fish. Dolphins also hunt and play with their food before they eat it.

[@saket2581]

Hit the like button who noticed the Rainbow in the middle of the 🌊.

[@klaiken989]

I always wonder, especially considering how intelligent dolphins and orcas are. If they can communicate with each other to some degree!? I mean, if you listen to them talk. They sound quite similar. Perhaps during these chases. It's actually a horrifying taunting about what the Orca is going to do to the Dolphins etc.

[@sonoftheway3528]

I don't think so. Among hunans alone there's at least 6k distinct languages in the present. Across species there would probably be way more. Maybe not even all orcas can understand each other.

[@TheBubbas22]

​@@sonoftheway3528 unfortunately even when we can understand each other, we still kill each other.

[@epayson85]

Not all orcas hunt dolphins but most that do are called "transient orcas" due to a genetic trait that makes them communicate far less. They have learned in order to hunt other mammals like dolphins they have to be stealthy to sneak up on them. Dolphins would hear them coming if they communicated all the time. These orcas are completely silent while hunting.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

Yes, orcas and dolphins are near sapient. (Or fully sapient, we dont know) i wouldnt be surprised if they could communicate. Which makes this quite disturbing, luckily some orca pods do not hunt dolphins. ​@sonoftheway3528

[@fourbreads]

Hey, just like the line in Phantom Menace, there's always a bigger fish. In their case, bigger teeth & a big brain equals danger for everything in the ocean.

[@DolphinDroneDom]

I can hear Liam Neeson now

[@tomtalker2000]

Dolphins hunting dolphins. Since Orca are the largest dolphin. Sad to see but it's also incredible how agile these huge 25ft animals truly are. And they are every bit the wolves of the ocean.

[@cantforgetyou]

Dolphins do the same with smaller fish. Dolphins also hunt and play with their food before they eat it.

[@ssoboot]

Of course it is sad but this is an amazing scene ❤️ humans are killing a lot more in the earth and in the sea...

[@cantforgetyou]

Dolphins do the same with smaller fish. Dolphins also hunt and play with their food before they eat it.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

Smaller fish are not sapient​@@cantforgetyou

[@kerpal321]

this is depressing me and making me sad

[@cantforgetyou]

Dolphins do the same with smaller fish. Dolphins also hunt and play with their food before they eat it.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

But their food isn't another intelligent being, that's the difference with dolphins hunting fish. ​@@cantforgetyou

[@cantforgetyou]

@@toyotawitha20mm35 You don't know how intelligent a fish is. Maybe even more then a dolphin.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

@cantforgetyou yes we do, fish are very stupid animals. The smartest fish is about as a smart as the average mammal, there Is nothing morally wrong with killing something that isn't sapient/ near-sapient for food.

[@БирдманЯрослав]

По сравнению с касатками дельфины это мышата

[@EthaKidd1]

Beautiful creatures doing what they do. It's amazing the team work and coordination the orcas use to hunt and the way they involve their young to teach them

[@booyakashaboy7250]

Well, they don't call them "killer" whales for nothing.. 😕

[@richardanderson8696]

Killer dolphins. They called them Killer Whales because they also observed them hunting and killing whales, too.

[@-MaXuS-]

Was there multiple dolphins that fell prey or are the shots out of sequence? Either way I really wished one could’ve gotten to see much more of the footage taken of the hunt. Tho I imagine y’all probably had to move to with the action so to speak. Really nice capture of a fascinating, yet somewhat painful event to witness. I think it’s the mere knowledge of the dolphins very much having a self awareness that’s immediately recognizable from a human centric perspective..🤔..or however I should put it. And I just can’t avoid imagining the experience from the dolphins perspective. Which is so frickin’ horrible. Anyhoo thx for the upload 🙏. ✌️🖖

[@minussoup9183]

Only a pod of humpback whales have the power to make orcas think twice.

[@stevepitts7998]

Amazing footage. The guys in the SEAFOX at the end look stunned and then I was reminded of seeing documentary film of Orcas that hunt seals that haul out on ice flows, by synchronised charging, creating a bow wave and washing the seal off. I wonder how long before this skill is adapted to upend humans from boats ... or has it been already?

[@DarkRag0n]

Orcas dont see humans as prey. And even if it tries, human meat have a very salty and different taste the majority of predators dont like. Also, humans would be a hard hunt to no reward prey.

[@pdavies8551]

@DarkRagOn - I like salty meat 🤔

[@guleet75]

Orcas are a type dolphin ! Right ?

[@khaelamensha3624]

No, both are Cetaceans but different species

[@pamelag7553]

No one needs to see the carnage that takes place when animals eat one another. God never meant it to be that way, see Genesis, and one day when Christ returns it will no longer be that way. Isaiah 11, Revelation 22. Why make money from these sad things, when you can put out a more positive message? Yes it's their way to survive now, but originally they did not have to survive this way. A better day is coming.☝️

[@Samsquench]

The whales make the dolphins look like guppies!

[@jkt3andme]

This footage is amazing! Great job 👏

[@kdm71291]

I guess if there's not enough seals, sea lions, fish and squid, they have to go after their own little cousins.....they appear to be one of the slightly smaller variety of dolphin, for whatever that's worth.

[@caseycat]

Dolphins are an orcas normal prey, nothing unusual about this. They've also been observed hunting and eating sharks.

[@cristiandragomir5148]

Supreme predator of the waters... Delightful when not hunting, and heartbreakingly brutal when hunting

[@innayarygina2132]

They're very smart! Respect ! They have the human's brain! I'm amazed! Very beautiful animal!

[@VampyricNinjaXDLOL]

Gorgeous animals. I wish I could swim with orcas all day. Also, This was top tier work. Loved the cuts, the music, everything

[@lukex1337]

0:53 one of the coolest rainbows

[@montitaylor9744]

Amazing, jaw dropping. I have to see okras in the ocean.

[@Hellbillyhok]

The majestic Sea wolves 🖤

[@bossman674]

If killer whales decide it’s time… it’s time.

[@szemokjudit3923]

Nem szeretem látni ezt...amikor az orkák eszik a " testvéreiket" 😢 tudom,csak látni nem akarom😓

[@philanderphillips2309]

That’s a well fed pod. The size of them!!

[@eschwarz1003]

A porpoise. Too small, triangular dorsal fin (possibly juvenile dolphin); cetacean on cetacean violence is sad, but a whale's gotta eat.

[@RustyShackleford-]

They’re both dolphins. One’s just much bigger. It’s like lions hunting cheetahs.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

It's worse because they are both extremely intelligent.

[@RustyShackleford-]

@@toyotawitha20mm35 true

[@bobspeltbackwards2195]

No dolphins were harmed in the making...DOH!!!!

[@merrillmilner8717]

I remember Sea World parading these creatures like they were our friends - what self-serving bullshit.

[@iforgotthenamemate]

people think orcas are some friendly ass mammals. they ain't.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

Depends on the pod..

[@5mnz7fg]

The music is inappropriate.

[@sonyagorniowsky8317]

Out of all the whales and dolphins orcas show the meaning of what family really is❣️

[@Trecesolotienesdos]

Orcas are the ocean’s emperors

[@historion]

Amazing nature. Well done Domenic.

[@ginadee4142]

I know this is nature. But i dont like killing the poor dolphins.

[@cantforgetyou]

Dolphins do the same with smaller fish. Dolphins also hunt and play with their food before they eat it.

[@paulg444]

It is amazing, how big they are and even more amazing that they would eat a species so close to them.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

Some orca pods don't eat dolphins ever.. I wonder why they refuse to. Makes you wonder. They do seen to have some sort of free will in a way. And have been shown to have altruism.

[@yannaedc5934]

2:45 I got so happy seeing them all get away but then I saw the one left behind and got sad. Dolphin's crazy agile, but versus a whole pack, what can you do

[@cacatr4495]

Viewer Discretion Advised, Not Kidding! If you love dolphins, and you're sensitive of heart, don't watch. Geez. Sad, and yet Orcas have to eat too. It almost wasn't hunting for them, it was almost like a slow stroll and just opening their mouths. Something was wrong with those particular dolphins, that they weren't swimming fast, some of them weren't even moving their pectoral fins or tails, almost only drifting slowly, very easy pickings for the Orcas, something akin to goldfish coming to the surface of a fishbowl to eat their flakes of food that a person shakes onto the water, super-easy feeding. Keep giving us Discretion Advisements in the future. Thanks.

[@lisashiplett7659]

This was Dom's reply to me regarding the dolphins @DolphinDroneDom 12 minutes ago It’s stamina! If the dolphins could maintain that pace they’d always win, but they tire much faster….

[@dragonlord4194]

Orcas have more stamina than dolphins thanks to their size They can tire out smaller dolphins, in this case Common Dolphins, by just keeping up the chase

[@nicholasespinoza9610]

Some type of Orcas hunt large whales by chasing them until they are completely exhausted then they drown the whale, looks like they doing the same thing here, they chase the dolphin until exhausted, then they drag the dolphin underwater to drown them before they eat them.

[@iwantafennec9577]

I think they were dolphin calves. The size ratio of the Orcas is way off for those to he adult dolphins; especially since they look to be Bottlenose dolphins and adults can be 10-12ft long in the pacific.

[@dragonlord4194]

@@iwantafennec9577 Those are Common Dolphins, not Bottlenose Dolphins. These are adults. Most likely a small hunting group that spit off the main pod to hunt for fish

[@Marcelo-yg9oy]

Na verdade as Orcas são das famílias dos Golfinhos, pode atingiram até 10m de comprimento e pesar 9Toneladas, devoram: leões e elefantes matinhos, focas e até mesmo tubarões brancos.💦🇧🇷

[@FantasySportsZen]

Dont they like fish?

[@FossilBox]

"Predator/prey relationship" is making me cringe. Call it what it is: a video of animals hunting. We're so soft these days.

[@christianryan4241]

The best capture I have ever seen....💎💙💎

[@arunstalin5965]

This is like that vhagar vs arrax scene from HoTD.

[@kymerwin8870]

Killer whales are heartless murderers

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

Depends.. every pod is like a tribe with different cultures, some orcas only hunt fish and never hurt dolphins while others do. Are all humans the same? No, same goes with orcas.

[@iandavis1355]

Does anyone know what species of porpoise the orcas were hunting? Below is from Wikipedia: [1] Porpoises range in size from the vaquita, at 1.4 metres (4 feet 7 inches) in length and 54 kilograms (119 pounds) in weight, to the Dall's porpoise, at 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) and 220 kg (490 lb). [2] Oceanic dolphins range in size from the 1.7-metre-long (5 ft 7 in) and 50-kilogram (110-pound) Maui's dolphin to the 9.4-metre (31 ft) and 10-metric-ton (11-short-ton) orca, the largest known dolphin.

[@lebonlabruteetletruand106]

Mec je te le dis tu as un talent, filmer d'aussi prêt des orques c'est magnifique ! Quelle régal de regarder tes vidéos !

[@lucilatavares1160]

I don't understand why would Orcas kill the most amazing happy beautiful most tender sea animal in this world WHY!!? I know Orcas are huge but they should not be killing the dolphins they are gonna go extinct and that would be very devastating .

[@daneg]

something I have yet to understand is how these dolphin and seal hunting orcas survive. how many dolphins do you have to kill to sustain a pod of 8-10 GIGANTIC orcas? it looks like they spend a lot of time/energy to enjoy the equivalent of a spring roll shared between 3-5 orcas.

[@Sirisley]

Hay Habian Sirenas Tambien- Unas De Las Ultimas Que Se Ven Nadando En Grupo Y Se Ban Rapido.

[@MouthPeaceCorbett]

Po baby dolphin...i think the scariest thing about orcas is they take they time with they food..."just eat me already, bruh...stop tossin me around!"

[@Roonieman27]

wow incredible. amazing footage. thats nature

[@dees900]

Do Japanese hunt orcas too?

[@aroundandround]

Great video, would’ve been nice to hear the natural sounds of the sea.

[@Th3_UnKnOwN_PrO]

Domestics cats do this to MILLIONS of animals a year in the U.S. alone. Food for thought!

[@judyross7976]

Can California develop some dolphin safe areas before the orcas eat all the precious Flippers. Yes, orcas deserve to eat too, but hell, not the dolphins! Just like telling the orcas and seals, not the penguins! Can somebody develop some orca kibble so we can protect the precious animals that are their prey? Orcas, can you just eat fish, please?

[@kimberiysmarketstrategy]

I watch a 2 year old & she listens & watches our whales to take her nap, over & over & over… lol. Your doing these for little Gracie ❤

[@062SanzidaSuma]

Give love them from me❤❤❤

[@LungteNangram]

I love dolphins, it's sad seing such intelligent animals gettin eaten 😢

[@GarciaClerveaux]

The way that orca was staring into the drone camera with that big chunk of dolphin flesh hanging out the side of its mouth @ 2:30, I could almost hear it growling!

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

Orcas and dolphins are so similar in intelligence... and they are near sapient, some orca pods are bullies man.

[@gcm747]

We can only really guess why Orca do not see us as prey. There have been so many instances of Orca just interacting with humans in the wild but never hunting. I’d love to know what they sense in humans that they don’t in practically any other living thing they come across.

[@toyotawitha20mm35]

Intelligence. Or more likely the fact that they know that if they fuck with us, they know the consequences...we know we are both apex predators of our own realm, it's more than likely mutual respect.

[@banzai420]

eu amo orcas, especialmente quando estão caçando golfinhos 😍😈

[@darrengriffin8609]

Dolphins hunting dolphins. Who'd a thunk it ?

[@vandayum]

If humans eat hunted each others was the image I saw ☠️

[@joslin7tj]

It's sad to watch😢 Orcas are good hunters, and they are matriarchal too😅

[@ellajames567]

Does anyone know the name of the track he was playing in the background?

[@ellerywhyel]

Dream Cave - Across the waters

[@WoodyWard]

The sad thing is the dolphins are smart enough to know they're screwed.

[@ramezanifard]

My god, that was so wild.

[@bennyjames558]

I bet if there was a orca for the orca they be much nicer, or they'd join force and make matters worst😂

[@hasanjamil3969]

The orcas could capsize that boat and eat everyone if they wanted to.

[@pppdddqqqbbb]

relationship, lol. It's called hunting.

[@Soilec]

Awesome !! Once again, thank you !!

[@LUVLAYNE34]

They play with their live prey like house cats play with their toys.

[@littlebitofeverything5948]

I know dolphins are fast but it seems orcas are faster

[@adenilzabranca7935]

São muito lindas meu Deus ❤️

[@9ers]

Don't they know you shouldn't play with your food

[@kirikomori7874]

It's like my cats and mice, they don't really eat them.

[@alejandrosantos1879]

Name of soundtrack? It’s so smooth 🧘

[@susiejones3634]

Yeah, sad; yet not.