The dangerous blow helps sperm whales repel killer whales

Sperm whales off the coast of Australia use a rare defense mechanism to force attacking killer whales to retreat .

A group of sperm whales are hunted by killer whales off the coast of Western Australia. Once exhausted, they chase away hungry attackers with a giant dump of waste. This ability to excrete at will for self-defense is a rare trait and predator-prevention mechanism that sperm whales use, according to Newsweek.

A group of killer whales tried to attack a group of sperm whales on March 19, more than 48 km from the coastal area in a hot spot in the sea called the Bremer abyss. Passengers on the Naturaliste Charters cruise ship were witnesses to the incident. "It's a self-defense mechanism ," said marine biologist Jennah Tucker working on the ship. "Because the sperm whale's diet consists mainly of squid, their excretion is actually red in color."

Sperm whales try to huddle together to defend themselves. (Photo: Jodie Lowe).

Killer whales are opportunistic feeders with a varied diet that includes fish, marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and walruses, sharks, rays, squid, and even whales. other. They often cooperate in hunting in packs, with members of many generations and relatives, ranging in size from a few animals to more than 40 animals. Cooperative hunting allows killer whales to target large prey more effectively and increase their chances of success.

At first, the sperm whales seemed tired and struggled to gather together to ensure safety from the attacking killer whales. They lift their heads out of the water to breathe, according to Tucker. Then everyone on the ship saw bubbles of red material rising to the surface and feared it might be blood from one of the whales. However, the bubbles were confirmed to be sperm whale feces.

" The waste cloud is created when sperm whales swish their tails over their feces to deter predators ," shares Naturaliste Charters Bremer Canyon Killer Whale and Pelagic Expeditions. "Killer whales engage in an intense chase, demonstrating their strength and superior hunting techniques, allowing them to herd the ocean's largest toothed predator into shallow waters. But they are not opponent worthy of the sperm whale's self-defense tactics."

Sperm whales' tail-swinging behavior through clouds of waste confuses their enemies. They also cluster together, forming a multi-pointed star shape with the head facing the center and the tail radiating outward. Finally, the killer whales quickly retreated, leaving the sperm whales behind. The above defense mechanism has been observed in sperm whales before. In 2015, a diver was suddenly surrounded by a cloud of waste after jumping into the water to take photos of sperm whales.

The attack behavior of killer whales in Western Australia is very surprising because sperm whales are usually at the top of the food chain and killer whales rarely attack them. They seem to be more reckless than most marine animals, attacking even large creatures like blue whales.