Coordinated behavior of killer whales, <i>Orcinus orca</i>, hunting a crabeater seal, <i>Lobodon carcinophagus</i>

Abstract

A pod of seven killer whales (Orcinus orca) was seen to attack a lone crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus) which was lying on an ice floe. The whale located the seal, moved away from the floating ice, then swam as a group close to the floe. This caused a wave which tipped up the ice floe and broke over it, causing the seal to be thrown into the water. The whales swam immediately to the vicinity of where the seal disappeared but it was not possible to ascertain if a kill was made.