November 6, 2006—They don't call them killer whales for nothing. Orcas—which aren't actually whales but are the largest of the porpoises—are powerful predators and efficient hunters.

Scientists are still studying the different hunting techniques used by "resident" orca pods—fish-eaters that repeatedly visit certain regions—and "transient" pods, which travel long distances in search of larger prey such as sea lions and seals.

Watch as a National Geographic film crew gets an up-close look at exactly how a transient pod off the California coast hunts its prey, including a doomed sea lion's desperate attempt to take refuge onboard the crew's boat.