Bigg鈥檚 killer whales, usually seen off British Columbia, were documented off the shores of California in an 鈥渆xotic鈥� June 5 sighting.

The mammal-eating orca were recorded in a hunting and feeding frenzy and shared online by the California Killer Whale Project. The non-profit was established in 2019 but works with a 66-year database of sighting data and a mandate to continue the long-term study of the ecology, natural history, and conservation of California鈥檚 killer whales.

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Using photos taken from multiple vessels, CKWP staff identified them as 30-year-old matriarch T065B, son T065B1, 12, four-year-old juvenile T065B2 and calf T065B3 at less than a year.

鈥淲e only rarely see killer whales from BC in Monterey Bay! They were feeding on a California sea lion when first seen, and were celebrating with some spyhops 鈥� especially the calf T065B3,鈥� CKWP explained in a social media post.

Within a half hour the family killed and feasted on another sea lion in a prolonged attack that included high leaps. A third hunt not long after finished quickly.

鈥淭hey celebrated again, with some breaches, spyhops, and tail slaps; the calf was especially active.鈥�