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[XiaNaphryz]

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Humpbacks-trying-to-fight-off-killer-whale-11116315.php

A pod of killer whales have killed seven whales in 12 days in Monterey Bay, but the humpback whales in the area appear to be doing just about everything they can to stop the feeding frenzy.

SFGATE reported last week on the killer whales' unprecedented string of attacks on gray whales, which are migrating through the Monterey Bay on their way from Mexico to Alaska. The back-to-back killings have certainly drawn attention. But as San Francisco Chronicle outdoors writer Tom Stienstra pointed out in his most recent column, the involvement of humpback whales in these interactions has been largely overlooked.

Nancy Black, a marine biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, explained that humpback whales have come to Monterey Bay a few weeks earlier than usual this year. Black estimates there are about 60 or 70 in the area right now. Their early arrival means they're around to witness the orcas' hunting season.

And the humpbacks don't seem content to eat anchovies and mind their own business.

"Humpbacks like to interfere with the killer whales for some strange reason," Black told SFGATE. "They seem to want to protect the prey."

In recent weeks, humpback whales have repeatedly charged over to the site of the kill and tried to deter killer whales from either hunting or feeding. Black said she has seen the humpbacks approach in groups of two or three and trumpet loudly to try and disperse the orcas.

Monday, a pair of humpbacks tried to use their flukes to push a pod of killer whales away from a feeding site (as seen in the drone video above).

"Every time the killer whales have been feeding, the humpbacks have been charging in," said Black. "Every single time."

Humpback whales have a long history of interfering with killer whales' hunting habits, but researchers still aren't exactly sure why they do it. Humpback whales don't have many natural predators. In fact, killer whales are some of the only animals who prey on young humpbacks. Black thinks the humpbacks may be fighting back against the orcas out of instinct, even though in these cases, they're not the ones being hunted.

As for those who think the humpbacks are behaving altruistically out of a desire to help gray whales, Black said, "It would be hard to believe they're doing it for that reason, but we don't know for sure."

The heightened activity in recent weeks has translated into amazing whale watching for those in Monterey Bay.

"This has never happened in my 30 years," Black said. "Just to witness that out in nature when you usually see that kind of thing on television is really spectacular."

 

[demosthenes]

Humpbacks continue to be ocean animals bro.

 

[HStallion]

We should be learning the language of the Humpback whales. That or the Orcas to tell them to fuck off!

 

[Extra Sauce]

*insert obligatory Ian Malcolm quote here*

 

[adamy]

wtf there are orcas off the CA coast???

and all this time I was afraid of running into a fucking shark? FUCK orcas!

 

[Snaku]

They are not the hell your whales.

 

[water_wendi]

As for those who think the humpbacks are behaving altruistically out of a desire to help gray whales, Black said, "It would be hard to believe they're doing it for that reason, but we don't know for sure."

Doesnt seem that farfetched to me.

 

[Derwind]

Humpback whales are one of the most intelligent creatures on this planet. The have amazing emotional iq.

 

[HStallion]

They are not the hell your whales.

Hell is other Whales - Sartre

 

[sphagnum]

Once we can decode the languages of dolphins and whales we're going to be very disappointed when they all turn out to be as shitty as us. Especially racist orcas and rapist dolphins.

 

[rec0ded1]

Need anime representation of this.

 

[Lys Skygge]

Orcas are assholes.

 

[Andrew J.]

Huh. I wonder how humpbacks and grays get along in other contexts.

 

[Cpt.Underpants]

killer whales are dicks man

 

[HStallion]

Need anime representation of this.

but with whales

 

[BigDug13]

We should be learning the language of the Humpback whales. That or the Orcas to tell them to fuck off!

 

[Henchmen21]

They are not the hell your whales.

Sad that these are the only 2 references.

 

[Count Dookkake]

This should be the pitch for Snyder's next CG movie.

 

[Madness]

Orcas are assholes.

Crazy how Jaws turned a very quiet and aloof and introverted apex predator like the Great White Shark which lives in isolation, rarely attacks humans, kills quickly into a killer shark monster that people fear and kill. And Free Willy instead turns another apex predator, one that is violent, social, and brutally tortures and kills prey either by tossing seals until they tear, bullies whales and dolphins sometimes into an almost dog style pet to be loved.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

That's really, really cute.

 

[VendettaRed07]

Orca's deserve to be ugly with a dumb name like Humpbacks and Humpbacks deserve to be cute and have a cute name like Orcas.

 

[andythinkpad]

Humpback whales always fuck with orcas though. They are nemesis.

 

[Metalingus5150]

Anyone else read is at gay whales instead of gray whales?

 

[BannedEpisode]

Orcas have to eat too folks.

 

[Volimar]

Orcas have to eat too folks.

Then they should pick uglier prey that no one cares about, like anglers.

 

[jchap]

Orcas are assholes but at the same time awesome

 

[Aaronology]

killer whales are dicks man

Says the homo sapien, the biggest asshole species in the solar system.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

Anyone else read is at gay whales instead of gray whales?

Well, it is San Francisco.

Otherwise, certainly interesting behaviour.

 

[Generalpsyduck]

Humpbacks continue to be ocean animals bro.

High five!

 

[Lys Skygge]

Edit: another

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

incredible gif

 

[Radec]

Goddamn, poor seal. Dude is just chilling out.

 

[zero_suit]

Edit: another

Nature is cruel.

 

[Log4Girlz]

This thread gets the humpback seal of approval

It's protecting the lil dog mermaid from orcas.

 

[Volimar]

Goddamn, poor seal. Dude is just chilling out.

If I recall they had been chasing it for quite a while and it hopped up there exhausted.

 

[Danis Saur]

Finally, the real Whale Wars.

 

[Madness]

Edit: another

Exactly what I was talking about in my earlier post.

 

[iRAWRasaurus]

Humpbacks are the real assholes. Killer whales got to eat too!

 

[radios shipping overview]

Fuck, killer whales are assholes.

 

[Tubobutts]

Orcas should learn that if they stick to eating non-mammals, people will stop calling them assholes on the internet.

 

[KeyBladerXIII]

but with whales

Was that a robot filled with blood?

 

[Lys Skygge]

Orcas should learn that if they stick to eating non-mammals, people will stop calling them assholes on the internet.

People are calling them assholes not because they're eating, but because they play with and torture their prey.

 

[Rentahamster]

Humpback whales have a long history of interfering with killer whales' hunting habits, but researchers still aren't exactly sure why they do it.

One sign of higher intelligence that is shared among humans and animals, is a propensity for trolling.

 

[Marvie_3]

Humpback whales are fucking awesome

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

As for those who think the humpbacks are behaving altruistically out of a desire to help gray whales, Black said, "It would be hard to believe they're doing it for that reason, but we don't know for sure."

They know orcas are dicks.

 

[Jacob]

Was that a robot filled with blood?

Answering that involves spoilers for the series that GIF is from (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and its sequel/conclusion film, but

Spoiler

they're not actually robots

.

 

[M.W.]

Where's the gif of the orca baiting the bird?

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Edit: another

 

[H.Cornerstone]

How am orcas Kill Gray Whales but not Humpbacks?

 

[super-famicom]

Orcas are assholes.

Dudebros of the sea