Orcas from Mexico have been encountered several times off San Diego in recent weeks, and in most cases they were hunting common dolphins.
But on Saturday, the Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas set their sights on something much larger: an adult fin whale, which they killed in a stunning predation event.
Afterward, the sleek mammals appeared to be in the mood for sharing.
The accompanying footage, captured by Gone Whale Watching San Diego, shows one orca passing beneath the boat with a a hunk of fin whale flesh in its jaws.
The Gone Whale Watching text description: "Orca bringing pieces of Fin Whale over to our boat."
Dominic Biagini, owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, told FTW Outdoors that the fin whale was "pushing 60 feet based on my initial
estimate."
Fin whales, which can measure 85 feet, are the second-largest creatures on the planet, next to blue whales. They're not routinely killed attacked by orcas, or killer whales, mostly because of their size and speed.
The Gone Whale Watching San Diego footage was captured by naturalist Nicole Schriber. The company said it would release more footage soon.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Orcas kill 60-foot fin whale in stunning predation event off San Diego
