Researchers have published the first records of killer whales hunting and killing adult blue whales.
The discovery was made in late March 2019 during the annual whale and dolphin research surveys led by Cetacean Research Centre (CETREC) in Western Australia.
Just two weeks later, a blue whale calf was taken by many of the same killer whales.
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An additional event of another blue whale calf predation was recorded in 2021.
In Australia, two populations of killer whales have recently been discovered and both feed at least in part on marine mammals.
CETREC lead researcher and lead author John Totterdell described the killer whales as "ferocious, with a preference for squid, fish and beaked whales".
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"In recent years recordings of the number of beaked whales taken have increased, although they seem to also predate on humpback and minke," he said.
Although there is previous documentation of killer whales attacking and harassing blue whales, these three predation events are the first confirmed kills.
"This study, combined with our recent research, highlights the need for increased understanding of killer whale population ecology so we can better determine their impact on the marine ecosystem in Australian waters," Mr Totterdell said.
