More than 300 dolphins and several killer whales were recently spotted in False Bay, Cape Town. Simons Town Boat Company's Dave Hurwitz was there to see it and witness a deadly attack. | Lisaleesolomon1
More than 300 dolphins and several killer whales were recently spotted in False Bay, Cape Town. "It was majestic to see the dolphin-hunting killer whales return after an eight-year hiatus," says Dave Hurwitz.
Hurwitz, the founder of Simons Town Boat Company, was the first one on the scene on Sunday when about 300 dolphins and eight killer whales were spotted in False Bay, Cape Town.
"Only when they are hunting dolphins do we usually see these animals together. Even though killer whales are the largest dolphin species, they can become predator and prey," he adds.
PICS | "At that time, they were milling around about two miles off Simon's Town, and the dolphins were reported close to Fish Hoek and heading towards Kalk Bay," Hurwitz recalls.
300 dolphins and eight killer whales were seen on Sunday in False Bay. Killer whales seen in False Bay in Cape Town. Then they noticed the 300-strong pod of dolphins in the distance, which headed straight towards them and the killer whales. headtopics.com
According to Hurwitz, the most surprising experience then took place. When the killer whales and dolphins met up, a most unusual "slow motion" predatory event occurred.
There was no dolphin flight response or high-speed killer whale chase. "The dolphins hardly accelerated beyond 15 kilometres per hour.
They are, in fact, quite capable of reaching 56 km/h and therefore, for the killer whales to catch them, they'd have to accelerate beyond that speed," Hurwitz says.