Killer whales from Mexico have thrilled boaters over the past week in Southern California, while striking terror into dolphin pods.
The Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales, or orcas, appear to have traveled this far north specifically to hunt dolphins.
The accompanying footage, shared by Netzero Expeditions, graphically illustrates the hunting prowess of the ETPs during a dolphin-killing event Monday off San Diego.
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Netzero’s Instagram description reads, in part: “This magnificent creature, with a massive weight of 6,000 kg and capable of speeds up to 56 km/h, showcased a striking example of kinetic energy in the natural world.
“During its hunting maneuver, the orca generated a staggering 727,087.87 Joules of energy, comparable to the force of over 450 professional boxer’s punches or a compact car moving at 60 km/h colliding with a wall — all concentrated in a single, breathtaking instant.”
Translation: ETP orcas are as powerful as they are graceful, and common dolphins that are so abundant off Southern California will be more at peace when the killer whales return to Mexico.