Stock photos of an orca whale (left) and a great white shark (right).Photo:Getty (2)
Getty (2)
Scientists have observed an orca whale killing a great white shark alone off the coast of South Africa, and the attack could offer insights into how the whale species' hunting tactics have changed.
Sinceat least 2017, a pair of orcas in the waters around South Africa have been killing great white sharks for their livers — a nutrient-dense meal for the whales — and leaving the rest of the sharks' bodies behind. The hunting tactic has been driving sharks away from the coastal waters around Cape Town, according to scientists studying the shark-hunting duo.
Dr. Luke Rendell, another scientist from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, told BBC that it was “unsurprising” that whales had learned to target great white sharks, as orcas may be facing challenges finding food due to issues like climate change and other human-led changes in their ecosystem.
“A great white shark is a nice, big concentration of food, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that some populations [of orcas], where these sharks occur in sufficient numbers, have learned to exploit that,” he said.
“Human activities, like climate change and industrial fishing, are exerting significant pressures on our oceans,” Towner added.
The scientists behind the recent article on the solo killer whale attack first reported their findings about Port and Starboard in 2022. They wrote in theAfrican Journal of Marine Sciencethat they had traced at least 8 great white shark killings back to the pair. According to the researchers, several sharks had their hearts and livers removed.
Dr. Primo Micarelli, a biologist at Italy’s Sharks Studies Centre and the University of Siena, toldCNNin a statement that while seeing such a powerful attack was “unforgettable,” he also worries about the ecological implications it has for both orcas and great white sharks.
“Despite my awe for these predators, I’m increasingly concerned about the coastal marine ecology balance,” Micarelli told the outlet.
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Orcas are the great white shark’s only predator, aside from humans.Killer whalesgrow up to 30 feet in length and can weigh more than six tons, whilegreat white sharkscan reach up to 22 feet long and weigh around 2.5 tons.
Towner told BBC that the orcas' new hunting habits could impact other species, such as African penguins, which could face more danger from cape fur seals — as great white sharks usually hunt the seals.
“These are groundbreaking insights into the predatory behavior of this species,” Towner told CNN. “The presence of these shark-hunting killer whales possibly ties into broader ecosystem dynamics. Rapid developments in this phenomenon make it challenging for science to keep pace.”
source: people.com
