Killer Whale Found with Six Otters It Swallowed Whole

Viewer discretion is advised: the photo below shows the graphic insides of a killer whale. It may not be suitable for young or sensitive viewers. 

When finding dead animals, researchers and scientists do their best to study why those animals died. It helps us in our further understanding of animals and also to determine if there is a decline in their population where we can assist as humans. However, when these researchers found this killer whale below, they were shocked to see the contents in its body.

Killer Whale Dead Near Bering Sea

A female killer whale, or other commonly known as an orca, was found in the Commander Islands offshore of the Bering Sea back in 2020. This killer was found to have six full otters that it had swallowed whole. Researchers have continued to research the events of what happened. 

“Killer whales don’t really chew their food, but instead usually break up their prey before swallowing it by thrashing it or tearing between several animals,” Joseph K. Gaydos, a wildlife veterinarian and science director of the SeaDoc Society at the University of California, Davis, told Newsweek.” 

Several news sites reported that this killer whale attempted to swallow a seventh one, and this could have ultimately led to its death. All seven of these otters weighed 258 pounds (117 kilograms.) 

Live Science reported that “One sea otter was lodged between the oral cavity and the esophagus, which may have led to the whale’s demise, the researchers wrote in the study, which was published Sept. 28 in the journal Aquatic Mammals.” 

One thing to note is the oddness of the food this killer whale decided to eat. “It is very unusual because orcas don’t normally eat sea otters,” study co-author Olga Filatova, a cetacean researcher at Moscow State University. 

What Do Killer Whales Eat?

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) of the genus Orcinus are carnivorous, which means that they eat meat. Killer whales most commonly prey on animals such as seals, fish, and squid. These whales weigh anywhere from 6,000-15,000 pounds. To keep up with this enormous weight, they are known to eat up to 441 pounds (200 kilograms) of food per day. 

Where Can Killer Whales Be Found?

Killer whales have a population of 90,000. Their conservation status is considered to be endangered. They can be found worldwide. However, they are most abundant in colder waters like Antarctica, Norway, and in Alaska.