Warning: Graphic Content
Shocking footage has been shared showing the moment killer whales appear to attack each other at SeaWorld. Watch below:
A visitor captured the terrifying video during a visit to the park in San Diego.
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In the clip, which has been shared on social media by the animal rights group PETA, two killer whales can be seen thrashing about in the water.
According to one onlooker, blood began spilling out into the water and the injured orca appeared to 'beach' itself, which experts say is 'highly unnatural behaviour'.
At one point, a young child can even be heard asking: "How is the orca still alive?"
The kid adds: "I thought they help each other, not fight each other."
Speaking about the horrifying incident, one eyewitness said the orca was being ganged up on by the others.
They said: "We all immediately saw blood soaking the water, which triggered my nine-year-old daughter to start crying.
"We would see bite marks and fresh wounds all over the side of the whale. Every couple seconds, two [or] more orcas would jump out of the water to [continue] attacking the hurt orca."
PETA has since confirmed that it has filed a complaint about SeaWorld with the US Department of Agriculture.
The new footage comes just days after another orca at the park died after contracting an infection.
Nakai, who died on Thursday night (5 August), had reportedly been kept in a tank where he was bullied by other whales for two decades.
It's not clear whether or not the whale in the video is Nakai.
PETA's Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said: "In two days, one orca has died and another has been attacked by other frustrated, closely confined orcas, resulting in a serious injury.
"And young children were witnesses to the carnage."
In its press release, the charity slammed parks like SeaWorld for the conditions these animals are kept in, which it claims lead to increased levels of violence.
It added: "Marine parks condemn orcas to miserable conditions—small, barren tanks that don’t allow them to swim at high speeds or dive great depths as they would in their natural habitats—causing them extreme stress and frustration.
"On top of that, it’s not uncommon for incompatible animals to be housed together in these tiny tanks, where they have nowhere to escape conflicts with other frustrated or aggressive animals.
SeaWorld has since said Nakai died after her came 'into contact with a portion of the pool'.
LADbible has contacted SeaWorld for a comment.
Dominic Smithers