When their kin aren’t attacking boats and porpoises or monitoring their giant grownup sons, some pods of orca whales are additionally recognized to assault the fearsome great white shark. Groups of those marine mammals are recognized to hunt and kill these big fish in an epic battle of apex predators. Now, a solitary orca–aka killer whale–has been observed consuming a great white shark for the first time. The findings are described in a research printed March 1 in the African Journal of Marine Science.
“The astonishing predation, off the coast of Mossel Bay, South Africa, represents unprecedented behavior underscoring the exceptional proficiency of the killer whale,” Alison Towner, a research co-author and shark biologist from Rhodes University in South Africa, mentioned in a assertion.
Pack hunters–Willy vs. Jaws
Typically, orcas work collectively in teams to catch their prey–most frequently sea lions, seals, sharks and even different whales. When hunting collectively in a pod, they encompass their prey and use mixed power and intelligence to assault. South Africa’s white sharks are predators in their very own proper and recognized for their gorgeous acrobatics and solo hunting.
[Related: Watch what can happen when killer whales tangle with great white sharks.]
In 2022, the similar analysis staff revealed that a pair of orca named Port and Starboard had been hunting and killing South Africa’s white sharks since 2017. Their predatory conduct has since pushed giant numbers of the sharks away from their pure aggregation websites. While orca whales can hunt giant animals individually, this most up-to-date prevalence is the first time that a single whale has been observed attacking a great white shark.
‘The scent of shark liver oil’
This incident was observed in June 2023 close to Seal Island in Mossel Bay, about 248 miles east of Cape Town and is difficult standard beliefs about the cooperative hunting behaviors in the area. Starboard the orca was working alone to “incapacitate and consume” an eight foot-long juvenile white shark in solely two-minutes. Later, the orca was observed carrying the shark’s liver in its mouth.
“Upon reaching Mossel Bay’s Seal Island, the scent of shark liver oil and a noticeable slick indicated a recent kill. Tracking Port and Starboard near the island, they remained separated,” Esther Jacobs, from marine conservation initiative Keep Fin Alive, mentioned in a assertion recounting the day. “Witnessing a white shark’s fin break the surface initially sparked excitement, but that turned to a somber realization as Starboard swiftly approached. The moment Starboard rapidly preyed on my favorite shark species was both devastating and intensely powerful.”
What Jacobs and the others on the water that day had been observing is a specialised feeding conduct. Orca in South Africa seem to have a robust choice for consuming the lipid-rich livers of white sharks.
[Related: This could be the first newborn great white shark ever captured on camera.]
“Over two decades of annual visits to South Africa, I’ve observed the profound impact these killer whales have on the local white shark population,” added Primo Micarelli, from the Shark Studies Centre and Siena University in Italy. “Seeing Starboard carry a white shark’s liver past our vessel is unforgettable.”
At least two great white sharks had been killed throughout these interactions, as a second carcass measuring 11.6 toes was additionally discovered close by.
“This sighting revealed evidence of solitary hunting by at least one killer whale, challenging conventional cooperative hunting behaviors known in the region,” mentioned Towner.
Shifting dynamics at sea
In addition to providing some new perception into predatory conduct in orcas, it’s additionally serving to present context to the ecosystem modifications that will occur when orcas displace sharks as the apex predator. Understanding the dynamics at play as killer whales proceed to prey on giant sharks underscores the want for conservation methods that may be tailored in a well timed method as the surroundings and ecosystem modifications.
[Related: Great whites don’t hunt humans—they just have blind spots.]
“The observations reported here add more layers to the fascinating story of these two killer whales and their capabilities,” ecologist Simon Elwen mentioned in a assertion. “As smart, top predators, killer whales can rapidly learn new hunting techniques on their own or from others, so monitoring and understanding the behaviors used here and by other killer whales in South Africa is an important part of helping us understand more about these animals.”
Elwen is a whale ecology professional at the University of Stellenbosch and Founding Director and Principal Scientist at Sea Search Research & Conservation. He was not an creator of this particular research.
These new findings and future research ought to present scientists in the area with extra perception in adapt conservation measures. According to Towner, expert “shark spotters” in Cape Town documented a file of over 300 great white shark sightings throughout eight seashores in 2011. Since 2019, there haven’t been any sightings in the space, as the sharks are shifting additional away from Cape Town. Threats from orcas like Port and Starboard and dwindling sources have prompted these great white sharks to start to maneuver additional away.
“Despite my awe for these predators, I’m increasingly concerned about the coastal marine ecology balance,” mentioned Micarelli.