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Secrets of the Whales Episode 101: Orca Dynasty

Orcas across the globe use unique strategies to stayon top of the food chain. Patagonia’s whales catch sea lions off the beach, New Zealand’s orcas root out hidden stingrays, and Norway’s sea giants master the tail slap. Witness five powerful orca matriarchs pass down their family hunting traditions to thenext generation, preserving their way of life before the customs are lost forever. 

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  • Orcas in the Falkland Islands pursue powerful elephant seals - a feat they can't do alone. (National Geographic for Disney+/Kevin Krug)

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    Orcas in the Falkland Islands pursue powerful elephant seals - a feat they can't do alone. (National Geographic for Disney+/Kevin Krug)

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  • More than 25,000 orcas inhabit the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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    More than 25,000 orcas inhabit the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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  • Antarctic sea ice. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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    Antarctic sea ice. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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  • Awkward on land and graceful in the water, Gentoo penguins are a favorite orca prey in the waters off Antarctica. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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    Awkward on land and graceful in the water, Gentoo penguins are a favorite orca prey in the waters off Antarctica. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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  • The Gerlache Strait along the Antarctic Peninsula is home to Type B Orcas, which bear a yellow-green hue from algae that clings to their skin. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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    The Gerlache Strait along the Antarctic Peninsula is home to Type B Orcas, which bear a yellow-green hue from algae that clings to their skin. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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  • Orcas in New Zealand follow a unique hunting technique: taking stingrays off the bottom - sometimes in very shallow water. (National Geographic for Disney+/Kina Scollay)

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    Orcas in New Zealand follow a unique hunting technique: taking stingrays off the bottom - sometimes in very shallow water. (National Geographic for Disney+/Kina Scollay)

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  • Herring are a primary food source for Norway's orcas. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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    Herring are a primary food source for Norway's orcas. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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  • National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry travels to Norway's remote fjords for a chance to capture new orca behavior. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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    National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry travels to Norway's remote fjords for a chance to capture new orca behavior. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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  • Orcas have learned to take advantage of Norway's fishing industry for easy prey. (National Geographic for Disney+/Alex Sletten)

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    Orcas have learned to take advantage of Norway's fishing industry for easy prey. (National Geographic for Disney+/Alex Sletten)

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  • Orcas have learned to take advantage of Norway's fishing industry for easy prey. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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    Orcas have learned to take advantage of Norway's fishing industry for easy prey. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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  • A single fishing boat in Norway can pull in hundreds of tons of herring in a single day, inadvertently trapping prey for orcas. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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    A single fishing boat in Norway can pull in hundreds of tons of herring in a single day, inadvertently trapping prey for orcas. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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  • Herring are a primary food source for Norway's orcas. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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    Herring are a primary food source for Norway's orcas. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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  • An adult orca pursue herring in the frigid waters off Norway's Atlantic coast. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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    An adult orca pursue herring in the frigid waters off Norway's Atlantic coast. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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  • An adult orca pursue herring in the frigid waters off Norway's Atlantic coast. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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    An adult orca pursue herring in the frigid waters off Norway's Atlantic coast. (National Geographic for Disney+/Luis Lamar)

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  • Orcas off Patagonia will intentionally beach themselves to snag sea lions. This risky strategy is unique to these specific whales. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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    Orcas off Patagonia will intentionally beach themselves to snag sea lions. This risky strategy is unique to these specific whales. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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  • A member of the National Geographic film team frees an orca that had entangled itself in a buoy line off of New Zealand's north island. (National Geographic for Disney+/Stephen Hathaway)

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    A member of the National Geographic film team frees an orca that had entangled itself in a buoy line off of New Zealand's north island. (National Geographic for Disney+/Stephen Hathaway)

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  • South American sea lions are agile swimmers, but one family of orcas has developed a strategy to take them from the beach. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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    South American sea lions are agile swimmers, but one family of orcas has developed a strategy to take them from the beach. (National Geographic for Disney+/Hayes Baxley)

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    • All images ©Disney. Editorial use only.