Shortly before detonation. Photo: Katy Ayres
Orcas are always up to something. The playful cetaceans frequently garner headlines for their outlandish behavior, whether its ramming boats in the Strait of Gibraltar or wearing salmon as hats for some reason. The latest orca stunt involves ramming a fish so hard it explodes – and the whole thing was caught on video.
The footage was captured on a GoPro in July 2024 by Dr. Kathryn Ayres, a scientist at the non-profit organization Beneath The Waves. In it, one orca is seen holding a dead sunfish in its jaws while a second barrels at it at high speed. Just before impact, the first whale lets go of the fish, allowing the second to smash it into smithereens with an audible impact. Shortly after, a juvenile whale is seen eating the pieces.
“We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily or it could also just be for fun,” Ayres told The Guardian. “Orcas are known for playing with their food.”
Marine biologist, wildlife cinematographer and Ayres’ co-author Erick Higuera added that the behavior is even more astounding in person (as you can tell from the divers’ hilarious audible reaction in the video). “When you see a multi-ton apex predator charge a massive fish at that speed right next to your boat, the sheer acoustic thud and the resulting explosion of tissue are overwhelming,” he added.
This wasn’t an isolated incident, either. In September 2025, a pair of orcas were seen performing the exact same routine in the Gulf of California, off the coast of Mexico. It is unclear whether these were the same animals, or a different set.
Good news for orca lovers. Bad news for sunfish.
