Killer sea creatures seen hunting sea lions off California coast. See ‘exciting’ photos
.jpg "A group of sea creatures were seen hunting in California.")
A group of sea creatures were seen hunting sea lions off the coast of California, officials said.
Onlookers were able to get a glimpse of the “rarely encountered” group of orcas as they went hunting for sea lions, according to a Dec. 3 Facebook post by Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
The pod of three, known as CA223, displayed hunting behavior and included the matriarch of the pod, an orca with a short and wide dorsal fin, officials said.
Viewers said they were “excited to collect valuable data on these more uncommon pods when they make their way into the bay,” the post said.
Killer whales are known to be one of the most “recognizable marine mammals” because of their black and white bodies, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
They are highly social animals that live in groups and rely on underwater sound to “feed, communicate and navigate,” according to the NOAA.
The whale watching group was able to see three orcas, 26 humpback whales, and 30 Risso’s dolphins, the post said.
Monterey is about a 120-mile drive southeast of San Francisco.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Killer sea creatures seen hunting sea lions off California coast. See ‘exciting’ photos."