Killer whale predation on an Antarctic minke whale in the northern Antarctic Peninsula

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
• Main Authors: ELISA SEYBOTH, MANUELA BASSOI, RENAN C. DE LIMA, JONATAS HENRIQUE F. DO PRADO
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2024
• Subjects: Balaenoptera bonaerensis; Orcinus orca; Predator; Southern Ocean; Type A killer whale diet; Science; Q; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Minke whale; Antarctic Peninsula; Bransfield Strait; Killer Whale; minke whale; Orca; Killer whale
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202420230731; https://doaj.org/article/6beab7a7dab546bc915241c5ce73664a

Abstract We describe the seldom observed event of a group of type A killer whale (Orcinus orca) predating on an Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in austral summer 2019. A pod of 11-13 individuals was observed – and documented by photographs and video – as they killed and fed on the minke whale in the Bransfield Strait, northern Antarctic Peninsula. The pod was being observed for about one hour, when some killer whale’s individuals were noticed to be performing hunting behaviour. This lasted about 10 minutes, at the end of which the minke whale was killed. Three different species of seabirds were observed feeding on the minke carcass. A video of the encounter is provided.