Researchers documented orcas tearing a dead sunfish apart in the Gulf of California, captured in video released by Beneath The Waves. The study in Frontiers in Ethology suggests the behaviour could be a way to break the fish into bite-sized pieces or simple play, since orcas often toy with prey and share food with group members. Experts say the footage underscores the intelligence and social complexity of killer whales.
Orcas Filmed Blowing a Dead Sunfish to Pieces — Playful Behavior or Practical Feeding?
Killer whales are highly intelligent apex predators and have been known to play with their prey and deploy sophisticated tactics to ensnare them (Olivier MORIN)
A group of killer whales (orcas) was filmed tearing a dead sunfish (mola) apart in an unusual underwater episode that sheds light on orca behaviour, researchers said.
Video released by the US-based NGO Beneath The Waves shows one orca gripping the sunfish's tail while another charges at full speed into the rotund fish, which then shatters into fragments.
What Researchers Observed
The sunfish in the footage was already dead, the authors emphasize — this was not a recorded act of killing. Kathryn Ayres, a co-author of the study published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ethology, suggested the whales may have been breaking the large fish into smaller, bite-sized pieces for sharing or easier consumption.
'Or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food,' Ayres said.
Expert Reactions and Context
Mark Peter Simmonds, director of science at OceanCare, compared the scene to a formal human meal where carving and socialising occur together: 'Perhaps it is similar to the time when the lead human at a formal meal would carve up the roast.'
Rebecca Wellard of Curtin University, who was not involved in the study, noted the behaviour highlights orcas' intelligence and social complexity. She added that sunfish are heavy, bony animals, so the dramatic shattering seen on film suggests powerful ramming or forceful impacts.
Orca Behaviour Examples
Killer whales are highly intelligent apex predators known for sophisticated hunting techniques and play. Documented behaviours include:
- Cooperative 'wave washing' to wash seals off ice floes.
- Wearing dead salmon on their heads (a behaviour of unclear purpose).
- Using pieces of seaweed as tools for rubbing and grooming, as seen in a critically endangered Salish Sea population.
Where and When
The incidents were recorded on two separate occasions in 2024 and 2025 off the Gulf of California and are described in the published paper. Beneath The Waves released the video that drew attention to the unusual behaviour.
Why It Matters
Whether the orcas were feeding efficiently, sharing food with calves and juveniles, or simply playing, the footage reinforces that orcas display complex social and cognitive behaviours. Continued observation and analysis may help researchers better understand when apparent play overlaps with feeding strategies.
Sources: Video from Beneath The Waves; study published in Frontiers in Ethology; interviews and expert comments reported by AFP.
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