How orca and dolphins team up to hunt salmon... and then EAT together

This is the moment an orca was spotted for the first time hunting with Pacific white-sided dolphins.

New research has found that killer whales tag-team with dolphins to hunt salmon.

The two marine mammals were also caught sharing fish scraps after killing their prey near British Columbia, Canada, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The research team found this was the first documented recording of the two mammals working together.

Study author Dr Sarah Fortune said: 'Pacific white-sided dolphins are often seen hunting along the coastline of British Columbia within metres of orca.

'Although orca frequently share their prey captures with pod members, they hunt independently.

'As the two species have not shown signs of fighting or avoiding each other, researchers have speculated that this may be due to them cooperating rather than competing for food.'

Researchers from Dalhousie University investigated hunting patterns of nine northern resident orca and their interactions with Pacific white-sided dolphins around Vancouver Island in August 2020.

The team monitored movement, underwater footage, acoustic audio, and aerial drone footage to show how the pair hunted.

They found 25 instances of orca changing course after encountering dolphins to follow them on foraging dives.

The department of oceanography says it could be down to orcas dampening their own noises to listen out for dolphin calls, which might help the orca find Chinook salmon.

The prey is too large for dolphins to capture and swallow whole.

Assistant Professor, Dr Fortune and her colleagues recorded eight moments of orca catching, eating, and sharing Chinook salmon with other orca.

They also found dolphins were present in four of these instances.

Dr Fortune said: 'On one occasion, the dolphins scavenged the remains of an adult Chinook salmon broken into scraps small enough for them to eat by the orca.'

The researchers say that was an act of prey sharing.

Dr Fortune added: 'The presence of local orca may offer dolphins protection from other orca pods passing through the area, while their interactions may help orca locate salmon more easily while providing an opportunity for dolphins to feed on scraps.'

However, she said more research is needed to investigate that suggestion.