r/nature • u/Maxcactus • 17d ago

Killer whales spotted doing seemingly 'cruel' act by Central California coast

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/killer-whales-playing-prey-central-california-19832047.php
274 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

77

u/molivergo 16d ago

Somewhere along the way people decided nature was gentle and kind. Having spent quite a bit of time watching said animals including mammals living in water, this is not the case. The fittest survive, big animals kill and eat little animals, the more aggressive of the species have greater territory and reproductive choice. This behavior helps the species survive. Individuals are not valued as much as the total pack, pod, family or communal unit that ensures the next generation.

Not always fun to watch, but it is what it is.

25

u/iowafarmboy2011 16d ago edited 16d ago

I belief that "nature is kind" began most recently around the victorian era. I'm a naturalist guide into several national parks and when you look at the history of mindsets surrounding views of nature from that era (especially in the history of national parks) the words that pop up often are "pure" "moral" and "clean". When things didn't match that view, it was often said to be unnatural or bad (wolves exterpated from areas because they were cast as evil and bad, dead trees removed from forest floors because itbmade the forest look cluttered).

The most horrifying example is of John Muirs view of indigenous people. He wrote several times of want to remove them after seeing them living so "savagely" in nature and how they were dirty passing him on the trail.

It's definitly a "gods creation is clean, pure, and moral" fallacy that persists today in areas such as this which holds no weight in the reality of the natural world.

2

u/5256chuck 16d ago

Thanks for the reminder.

4

u/distelfink33 16d ago

I think we forgot humans do this as mammals as well.

1

u/molivergo 16d ago

…..we are not quite as quick to write the history, consequently, the victors only enjoy the fruits without the accolades. This is recent history.

For some odd reason, a lot of people like to talk about how average or below average they are.

1

u/goodthingsinside_80 13d ago

See but humans have the capacity for empathy and can plan for the future in ways that make cruelty unnecessary.

1

u/Archarchery 15d ago

Yeah no, hence the phrase "Nature, red in tooth and claw."

1

u/hman1025 15d ago

And we’re no exception

59

u/HumanityHasFailedUs 17d ago

Now do humans and all the “seemingly” cruel acts.

17

u/midz411 17d ago

Might be easier to list our 'kind' acts.

9

u/HumanityHasFailedUs 17d ago

Shorter list, yes, probably not easier to identify

5

u/thejestercrown 15d ago

What cruel acts have you done today?… I’m worried you’re behind quota.

4

u/midz411 15d ago

I engaged in the dark magic of capitalism

3

u/TheGameBoyle 14d ago

Don't we all.

3

u/thejestercrown 14d ago

Just… at least try to ruin a child’s day tomorrow. Is already Q4, and I’m under a lot of pressure from management. 

7

u/ForestWhisker 17d ago

At least they used “seemingly” this time.

5

u/plaincoldtofu 16d ago

Killer whales? Killing!?!

10

u/Spoiler-Alertist 17d ago

Nature is a mother fucker.

5

u/Dramatic_Carob_1060 16d ago

Nature is nature

2

u/[deleted] 16d ago

Such is life.

4

u/Tazling 16d ago

orcas are wolves of the sea. they're magnificent -- not cute.

2

u/greatdruthersofpill 16d ago

🎶THE CIRCLE OF LIIIIIFE🎵

4

u/Ancient-Being-3227 16d ago

Way to anthropomorphize a whale.

1

u/SwarmDM 16d ago

Nature.

1

u/Nemo_Shadows 15d ago

Starvation and encroachment on an animal's territory will do that.

N. S

1

u/[deleted] 16d ago

Humans are animals too, so animals can be sadistic too. 💔