Meet the ocean's fiercest hunters. Orcas, tiger sharks, lionfish, piranhas — these predators have evolved sharp hunting tactics and sensory tricks that let them outmatch their prey in the wild. We've put together a collection of BBC video clips all about ocean predators (see Related Resources below). Watch them, then take the Kahoot to see what stuck.
The tactics are specific and surprising: orcas and tiger sharks use specialized hunting methods, lionfish disorient prey before striking, and piranhas' reputation turns out to be more myth than fact. Explore how these predators have come to dominate their corner of the ocean, and pick up some solid grounding in marine ecosystems along the way.
Dive into the captivating world of whales with this BBC Learning Hub playlist, featuring 12 stunning clips from landmark BBC series. Explore the lives of blue whales, orcas, and grey whales as they glide through oceans, communicate, hunt, and nurture their young. Perfect for sparking curiosity, these breathtaking videos bring the majestic giants of the sea into your classroom or home.
In The Resilience of Gentoo Penguins, learn how Gentoo penguins show incredible resilience as they face predators, harsh climates, and changing ice conditions to feed and protect their young. From orca chases to the penguins’ first journeys to the sea, the challenges of survival are great in Antarctica’s changing environment. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In An Orca Whale Hunt, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a pair of orca, also known as killer whales, who are working together to attack a sea lion. This video is an excerpt from BBC’s Nature's Great Events, a documentary series that showcases some of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth, exploring how life adapts to natural events that can transform entire landscapes.
In Orca Life and Hunting Skills, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the world of orcas, the largest and most powerful members of the dolphin family. Follow this pod of nine, including a mother and her calf, as they navigate a narrow channel to hunt elephant seals. Using careful timing and strategy, the mother secures a meal, highlighting the intelligence and skill of these apex predators. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In Whales in Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how humpback whales, minke whales, and orcas all arrive in Antarctica to eat massive amounts of krill. Watch humpback whales feed and learn how minke whales’ body shape helps them swim far and fast. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Penguins vs. Killer Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights how penguins leap onto the ice to avoid a pod of killer whales that is working together. The penguins, safe on land, take big risks to take care of their babies and give them a head start in this frozen landscape. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Orcas and Herring in the North Atlantic, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how orca catch herring off the coast of Norway. Watch how orca manage to catch herring that are swimming in a huge school. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Sea Lion Pups Living in Social Groups, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how sea lions, especially baby sea lions, benefit from living in social groups on the coast of Patagonia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In The Orca and the Herring Feast, naturalist Steve Backshall is diving with orcas and humpback whales. Orcas find fish and use their senses to learn new ways to find fish. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In Meet the Mighty Orca, naturalist Steve Backshall sails around the fjords of Norway. He notices herring in the water, and finds a pod of orcas. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In The Human Impact on Orca, naturalist Steve Backshall is in Norway to observe orca feeding on herring. He explains how humans are taking orcas into captivity and how tourism is protecting them. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
Meet the ocean's fiercest hunters. Orcas, tiger sharks, lionfish, piranhas — these predators have evolved sharp hunting tactics and sensory tricks that let them outmatch their prey in the wild. We've put together a collection of BBC video clips all about ocean predators (see Related Resources below). Watch them, then take the Kahoot to see what stuck.
The tactics are specific and surprising: orcas and tiger sharks use specialized hunting methods, lionfish disorient prey before striking, and piranhas' reputation turns out to be more myth than fact. Explore how these predators have come to dominate their corner of the ocean, and pick up some solid grounding in marine ecosystems along the way.
Dive into the captivating world of whales with this BBC Learning Hub playlist, featuring 12 stunning clips from landmark BBC series. Explore the lives of blue whales, orcas, and grey whales as they glide through oceans, communicate, hunt, and nurture their young. Perfect for sparking curiosity, these breathtaking videos bring the majestic giants of the sea into your classroom or home.
In The Resilience of Gentoo Penguins, learn how Gentoo penguins show incredible resilience as they face predators, harsh climates, and changing ice conditions to feed and protect their young. From orca chases to the penguins’ first journeys to the sea, the challenges of survival are great in Antarctica’s changing environment. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In An Orca Whale Hunt, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a pair of orca, also known as killer whales, who are working together to attack a sea lion. This video is an excerpt from BBC’s Nature's Great Events, a documentary series that showcases some of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth, exploring how life adapts to natural events that can transform entire landscapes.
In Orca Life and Hunting Skills, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the world of orcas, the largest and most powerful members of the dolphin family. Follow this pod of nine, including a mother and her calf, as they navigate a narrow channel to hunt elephant seals. Using careful timing and strategy, the mother secures a meal, highlighting the intelligence and skill of these apex predators. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In Whales in Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how humpback whales, minke whales, and orcas all arrive in Antarctica to eat massive amounts of krill. Watch humpback whales feed and learn how minke whales’ body shape helps them swim far and fast. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Penguins vs. Killer Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights how penguins leap onto the ice to avoid a pod of killer whales that is working together. The penguins, safe on land, take big risks to take care of their babies and give them a head start in this frozen landscape. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Orcas and Herring in the North Atlantic, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how orca catch herring off the coast of Norway. Watch how orca manage to catch herring that are swimming in a huge school. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Sea Lion Pups Living in Social Groups, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how sea lions, especially baby sea lions, benefit from living in social groups on the coast of Patagonia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In The Orca and the Herring Feast, naturalist Steve Backshall is diving with orcas and humpback whales. Orcas find fish and use their senses to learn new ways to find fish. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In Meet the Mighty Orca, naturalist Steve Backshall sails around the fjords of Norway. He notices herring in the water, and finds a pod of orcas. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In The Human Impact on Orca, naturalist Steve Backshall is in Norway to observe orca feeding on herring. He explains how humans are taking orcas into captivity and how tourism is protecting them. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.