I sympathize with JoeyA in the situation he describes, but this part about the orca is just plain wrong. Orcas prey on defenseless creatures whenever they can, just like the gambler JoeyA describes (as well as thugs mugging grandmothers, and pretty much every other predator in the natural world - see any documentary). As with hustler types, they only engage in tougher action when they're desperate.
In the case of orcas, they specifically seek out vulnerable sea lion pups during their first days learning to swim (so they can't get away) and before they understand the dangers of high tide. They don't just kill and eat them right away, either. They play with them, slamming them against the water and launching them
high in the air with their tails. (The National Geographic narrator's voice
in this clip is almost more disturbing than the footage.)
Polar Bears International specifically mentions orca whale predation on their
myths and misconceptions page, saying it's "extremely unlikely" and they've never heard of it being observed.
Robert
