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Watch an orca ram a sunfish so hard that the fish explodes
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CNN Newsource , KVIA ABC-7
· July 23, 2026
· 5 min read
By Mindy Weisberger, CNN (CNN) — How hard do you have to ram a fish to make it explode? Ask an orca. Barreling into large, heavy fish with enough force to blast them into instant chum is a previously unknown collaborative feeding strategy among orcas, scientifically called Orcinus orca, also know...
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Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway But in 2024 and 2025, divers captured underwater video of two such events in the Mexican Pacific Ocean and in the Gulf of California.
Why this matters in The El Paso
While the explosive ramming of sunfish by orcas may seem like a distant phenomenon, El Paso residents who enjoy visiting the Gulf of California for water sports and ecotourism may be interested to know that these events occurred in nearby waters. The Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, is a popular destination for El Pasoans looking to explore the region's unique marine life. The fact that orcas are exhibiting this behavior in the Gulf of California raises questions about the health of the marine ecosystem in the region and how human activities may be impacting the behavior of these apex predators. As El Paso continues to grow and develop its connections to the surrounding region, understanding the complex relationships between human activity and marine life will become increasingly important for promoting sustainable tourism and conservation practices.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 5 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Mindy Weisberger, CNN (CNN) — How hard do you have to ram a fish to make it explode? Ask an orca. Barreling into large, heavy fish with enough force to blast them into instant chum is a previously unknown collaborative feeding strategy among orcas, scientifically called Orcinus orca, also know...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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