Watch Killer Whales Chase A Boat At Terrifying Speed

Apex predator: Killer whales
slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com

Written by Katie Melynn Wood

Updated: October 19, 2023

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Killer whales, or orcas, do not usually target humans. However, this group of whales chased after a boat at high speeds.

Watch This Incredible Orca Encounter Below!

Watch these orcas display impressive speed as they pursue this speedboat

The video begins by showing whales swimming after a boat. Dorsal fins pop up out of the water periodically and the flash of a sleek whale can be seen under the water in the boat’s wake. A few jump out of the water on either side of the wake, thrilling the tourists onboard who are recording the encounter with cameras.

Orcas generally leave humans alone and do not act aggressively toward people. They are quite formidable for other ocean life, however, including seals, fish, and squid. They have even been known to take on other whales that are larger than they are!

Killer whale breaching

Orcas are capable of swimming at 35 mph per hour

These whales begin to gain on the boat, which is traveling at high speeds. They dive in and out of the water as they chase. People onboard scream, excited and perhaps a bit nervous that these large sea mammals are getting so close.

Orcas can swim up to 35 miles per hour. While the boat is going fast enough to outrun them, these whales aren’t about to slow down.

Killer Whale - (Orcinus Orca)

Orcas may approach boats out of curiosity or because they are juvenile whales that may be playful.

They begin to swim on their sides, showing off their distinctive black-and-white coloring and pattern. They have black backs, white bellies, and a white spot just behind their eyes.

The whales come up so close that the people on the boat are startled. Cameras start to get shaky and water sprays nearby. “Look how cool that is,” one woman yells over the loud roar of the motor. One whale even gets so close that it looks as if they are pushing against the boat.

“Unreal,” the woman says as the whales begin to fall back. It’s unclear why the whales took such an interest in the boat, just that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these tourists.

Other Amazing Animal Videos You Might Like

Orcas are known to enjoy a bit of fun at other animals’ expense. In this video, a small group probably consisting of cousins can be seen roving the high seas. One of their number tosses an object high into the air to the excited yell of an onlooker. It is not a fish that sails at the impact with the orca’s tail, but a poor seal. Watch the action unfold below:

Orcas toss a seal high into the sky in this video

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About the Author

Katie is a freelance writer and teaching artist specializing in home, lifestyle, and family topics. Her work has appeared in At Ease Magazine, PEOPLE, and The Spruce, among others. When she is not writing, Katie teaches creative writing with the Apex Arts Magnet Program in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. You can follow Katie @katiemelynnwriter.

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