Drone footage reveals orcas hunting unexpected prey off Chile for first time - Orcas are intelligent apex predators with an impressively varied diet and unique behaviours

Off the coast of Chile, in waters filled with krill and anchovy by the Humboldt Current system, live an elusive and little-known population of orcas. Thanks to citizen science and years of dedicated surveillance,

The Humboldt Current’s orcas have yet to be assigned to an ecotype, and their hunting behavior provides clues about where the mysterious population might belong, researchers say.

On multiple occasions, scientists and citizen scientists observed the sleek and efficient predators feasting on dusky dolphins ( Lagenorhynchus obscurus ). It's the first time orcas ( Orcinus orca) have been seen hunting this species of dolphin in the Humboldt Current – a surprise to marine scientist Ana Maria García Cegarra of the University of Antofagasta in Chile,

A little-known population of orcas living off the coast of Chile has been seen hunting and eating dusky dolphins for the first time. The behavior may offer insights into the lives and diets of all orcas in the southern hemisphere,