Last night on the ABC I watched a documentary about a pod of killer whales that had attacked two grey whales off the coast of California. The attack took place on Mother’s day and the two grey whales were a cow and her cub, how fitting.

A large number of tourists, out on multiple whale watching trips, were horrified at the scene that lasted about three hours. A number of experienced whale watchers and a couple of whale researchers also showed up at the scene - needless to say there were many videos recording the event.

Over the three hours, two pods of orcas repeatedly attacked this cow and cub by ramming themselves into the cub trying to separate it from the cow. Clearly the intent was to kill the cub by drowning or injuring it with their blows. The crowd of tourists were mostly horrified by the killer whale behaviour and obviously cheering for the cow who was doing her best to protect her cub. In the end, the cub and cow survived, but there was speculation a dead cub sighted a day later might have been the same one (dead of its injuries).

It was a wonderful show to watch about the struggle for survival, but I was disappointed that, as usual, many thought the behaviour of the orcas to be cruel. Carnivores aren’t cruel when they prey, attack and kill, they’re simply hungry. The orcas were hungry and that’s why they attacked.

It’s unfortunate that many people ignore the nature of these animals, not to mention dolphins and porpoises, all of which are carnivores. They’re not called killer whales because they eat seaweed, but because they kill whales.

I don’t have time to address all of my points here, but suffice it to say that if many of these same people walked by a beach with orcas beached on the sand they’d join the throngs to save them by pushing them back in the water. How the tears would flow from the children.

I have always had an uncomfortable feeling watching people (and people’s kids) volunteer to be kissed by an orca at an aquarium. I have this unnerving suspicion that one day, that orca will show its true nature, and there will be plenty of cameras recording the scene. Let’s hope they stay well fed with fish instead.

I have more to write on this matter, and will put my thoughts down soon enough.

Come back again.

John Daicopoulos