Harrowing moment orcas ram into two-tonne fish so hard it EXPLODES into bite-sized pieces in never-before-seen behaviour

THIS is the jaw-dropping moment a two-tonne fish is pinned down and smashed into a thousand bite-sized pieces by a group of hungry orcas. Chilling footage showed a killer whale hurtling towards its prey so hard that it explodes – in a never-before-seen strategic hunting manoeuvre. An orca was seen charging towards a fish being held in place Credit: SWNS Terrifying footage showed its prey exploding its tiny pieces after the collision Credit: SWNS The intelligent sea beast was seen obliterating a sharptail sunfish as it was held in place by a fellow orca. In the extraordinary footage, the prey is gripped by its large tail fin in front of a huge killer whale that is charging towards it. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! Seconds later, the speeding mammal collides with the two-tonne fish – one of the heaviest in the world – shredding it into countless tiny pieces. Scientists, who say they have never seen this type of carefully coordinated technique before, have speculated that it was devised to help young orcas feed. The moment of impact seen as the orca struck the fish Credit: SWNS It blew open into thousands of smaller chunks Credit: SWNS But fears are mounting of the chilling possibility that the orcas were simply killing the animal for fun. Dr Kathryn Ayres, the lead author of a study published in the journal Frontiers in Ethology, said: “We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily, or it could also just be for fun. “Orcas are known for playing with their food.” Orcas are among the ocean’s most intelligent predators, living in complex social groups and using masterclass hunting tactics to catch their prey. Most read in Tech Scientists have documented killer whale pods working in deadly teams. They have reportedly submerged and drowned juvenile blue whales, and even generated powerful waves in unison to wash unsuspecting seals off ice floes directly into waiting jaws. Other reports have described orcas wearing dead salmon on their heads like hats, while others have tossed seals around like toys. But boffins say they have seen nothing like this ramming technique before. Researchers have reportedly recorded two examples of the blasting fish technique which took place just over a year apart. In July 2024, Ayres said she saw a group of killer whales including a young orca handling a sharptail sunfish that was already dead. A female held the fish steady while a male accelerated towards it at speed. Following the brutal collision, the prey’s carcass was blown open into thousands of small pieces. The young orca then ate some of the tiny chunks. In September 2025, whales were again seen using the hold-and-ram technique. Scientists believed the manoeuvres were intended to prepare the prey for dinner, rather than kill it, since both sunfish were already dead. Holding the body in place appeared to allow the pacing orca to strike its target more accurately. It is currently unclear whether the same orcas were behind both recorded instances. But clearer images of their dorsal fins and eye patches could help to narrow down the suspects. This could help make clear whether the method is confined to one group – or if the tactic is widespread. Ayres said: “Collecting good identification photographs whenever possible is key. “We are still seeing new techniques of how orcas hunt and process their prey. “They’re one of the most iconic marine predators in the world, yet they continue to surprise us.” Comment now