Orcas have been observed striking large fish with immense force, causing their bodies to explode—a behavior that may represent a form of bloody entertainment.

On several occasions, orcas have been seen holding sunfish in their jaws while another orca charges toward the target at high speed to ram it, shattering the fish into thousands of small pieces. Since the fish were already dead before the impact, scientists suspect this behavior may be a form of play.

The Guardian quoted Dr. Katherine Ayres, a scientist at the nonprofit Beneath the Waves, as saying, 'We believe this behavior may help younger orcas feed more easily, or it could simply be a way to have fun—orcas are known to mess with their prey and play with their food.'

Ayres documented the first ramming incident using a GoPro camera in July 2024, and her shocked screams can be heard in the audio recording.

Marine biologist and wildlife cinematographer Erick Higuera, of the Mexican nonprofit Conexiones Terramar, who co-authored the study, said: 'When you see an apex predator weighing several tons charging at a huge fish at such speed right next to your boat, the thunderous impact and the subsequent explosion of flesh are both terrifying and awe-inspiring.'

Sunfish are among the largest fish in the world, exceeding 3 meters in length and weighing up to 2,000 kilograms, and they are commonly preyed upon by orcas.

In the footage captured by Ayres, a female orca holds the tail of a dead sunfish while an adult male speeds toward her. Just before impact, the female releases the dead fish, and a distinct crashing sound is heard as the male strikes the target, leaving a cloud of white fragments. Afterwards, a young orca is seen eating the small pieces of meat, while the adults fed on the main carcass remains.

In a second incident documented by a tour operator in September 2025, an adult female orca was seen holding a dead sunfish steady while another orca performed a high-speed ramming maneuver to shatter it into thousands of pieces. These events were recorded in the Gulf of California off the coast of Mexico, but it remains unclear whether the same orcas were involved in both incidents.

One hypothesis is that the ramming is used to break the tough, rubber-skinned sunfish into small pieces suitable for the jaw size of young orcas. However, orcas are also known for their social calls, boisterous behaviors, and reckless games that serve no clear practical purpose.