Watch orcas ram a sunfish so hard it explodes

In recent years, orcas have been observed ramming boats, occasionally sinking them. Scientists suggest this behavior may be culturally learned, passed down through generations. Fresh evidence now shows orcas in the Gulf of California teaming up to ram sunfish with such force that the carcasses disintegrated into fragments. This is distinct from orcas' typical use of force to remove flesh from prey, though the reason remains unclear, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Ethology.

Kathryn Ayres, a co-author from Beneath The Waves, a nonprofit focused on ocean health, posits that this behavior might aid younger orcas in easier feeding, or it may simply be out of playfulness, as orcas are known for their playful interactions with food. Orcas are renowned for their cooperative hunting strategies, which involve striking or killing animals, and they sometimes consume their prey, sometimes not, indicating the behavior could be social interaction, play, or practice for social learning.

Orcas have been seen ramming whale sharks with one orca holding the prey steady while others join in. Other cooperative techniques include herding mobile rays, obstructing an escape route while hunting white sharks, and deliberately creating waves to knock penguins off ice floes.