One summer in the mid 60s I worked on an albacore boat out of San Pedro, Cal. Interesting time to say the least. The captain had extreme respect for killer whales, so much so that he wouldn’t let us on deck when he thought he saw one’s fin. He told stories of them snatching fishermen off of the deck. Also said he knew of a skipper who spent the better part of a day on his boat’s mast to stay out of their reach. (Reminds me of the scene in Tremors—but this was over 20 years before the movie).
He also said that they would kill much larger whales by harassing them, butting them with their heads until the whale opened its mouth. They’d then eat the tongue out of the whale’s mouth, then letting it bleed to death.
Never felt the love for them.
As the white shark apologists would say, the Orca must have mistaken the fishermen for seals. -Tom
I believe they have been called the Wolf of the Sea for a good reason. Shamu and Free Willy they are not.
They are curious about us until they have other needs I suspect.