Incredible Encounter: Orca Takes Down Great White Shark in Record Time, Hinting at Ecosystem Changes
Witnessed by researchers, a male orca named Starboard swiftly defeated a young great white shark in a matter of minutes. This extraordinary hunting event may indicate significant ecological transformations in the marine world.
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Since at least 2017, a pair of orcas have been working together to hunt and kill great white sharks along a stretch of South African coastline. They target the sharks for their nutrient-rich livers, discarding the rest of the carcass.
Scientists have been studying the hunting behavior of sharks around Cape Town. Recent research has uncovered a surprising discovery that could have implications for the marine ecosystem as a whole.
Last year, scientists observed a male orca named Starboard hunting. In just two minutes, Starboard managed to kill a 2.5-meter juvenile white shark all by himself.
During my visits to South Africa over the past twenty years, I have witnessed the significant impact that killer whales have on the local white shark population. Dr. Primo Micarelli, a marine biologist from Italy's Sharks Studies Centre and the University of Siena, shared his unforgettable experience of seeing Starboard carrying a white shark's liver past their vessel while aboard one of the research vessels.
Dr. Micarelli expressed his admiration for these predators but also voiced his growing concern about the balance of coastal marine ecology in a statement.
It is not uncommon for orcas, which are known for their intelligence and social behavior, to hunt large animals on their own. However, a recent study published in the African Journal of Marine Science has revealed a unique incident where an orca successfully hunted a great white shark, one of the largest predators in the world.
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Starboard's killing of the great white shark goes against the usual cooperative hunting behavior of orcas. These marine mammals are known to work together to surround and attack large prey like sea lions, seals, and sharks. Alison Towner, the lead author of the study and a doctoral researcher at Rhodes University, highlighted this behavior.
The study revealed that previous attacks on great white sharks by orcas involved groups of two to six individuals and could last up to two hours. This shows the coordinated effort and intelligence that orcas exhibit when hunting their prey.
Towner, who has been studying great white sharks for 17 years and learning about their movement patterns through tagging data, stated that a recent sighting provided evidence of solitary hunting by at least one killer whale. This challenges the conventional cooperative hunting behaviors known in the region.
She also mentioned that these new insights into the predatory behavior of killer whales are groundbreaking. The presence of killer whales hunting sharks could potentially be linked to broader ecosystem dynamics. The rapid developments in this phenomenon make it difficult for science to keep up.
The study described an event that occurred on June 18, 2023, about 800 meters (875 yards) off the coast near Seal Island, close to Mossel Bay. This location is approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) to the east of Cape Town. During the event, individuals on two boats were watching the orcas.
Less than an hour after arriving, a shark was spotted near the surface. Researchers, tourists, and others on board saw Starboard grab the left pectoral fin of the shark. In less than two minutes, Starboard thrust forward with the shark multiple times before eventually eviscerating it, as stated in the study.
Later, Starboard was captured in a photograph from one of the vessels. The image showed Starboard with a bloody piece of peach-colored liver in its mouth, according to the study. Meanwhile, Starboard's male companion, Port, remained around 100 meters (328 feet) away and did not partake in the kill.
A second great white shark carcass washes ashore in June near Hartenbos, South Africa.
A second great white shark carcass washes ashore in June near Hartenbos, South Africa.
Christiaan Stopforth and Drone Fanatics SA are familiar names to the researchers conducting the study. They have a long history of hunting and killing great white sharks. The orcas they observe have distinctive dorsal fins that bend in opposite directions, which is why they are named the way they are.
The pair of killer whales travel long distances along South Africa's eastern coastline, reaching as far as Namibia. Researchers believe they began targeting great white sharks in 2015. It wasn't until 2022 that aerial footage captured the orcas killing a great white shark, according to Towner.
Towner mentioned, "Although we lack concrete evidence on the specific reasons, the appearance of the killer whale pair may be connected to broader ecosystem changes." He emphasized the impact of human activities like climate change and industrial fishing on the oceans, stressing the need for further research and funding to fully understand these dynamics.
“There are still plenty of unanswered questions about these shark-hunting killer whales and where they came from.”
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Researchers have recently observed killer orcas hunting great white sharks, which has led to concerns about the impact on shark populations. The behavior of the orcas is scaring off the sharks, but researchers are unsure of where the sharks are moving to. According to Towner, this relocation could potentially lead to sharks overlapping with heavy commercial fisheries.
The researchers said that the strong smell of shark liver in the air and gulls flying towards a slick on the water’s surface, along with the discovery of a second shark carcass measuring 3.55 meters (11.6 feet) nearby, suggested that another great white shark may have been killed before the boats arrived that day.
According to the study, the kill by a lone orca may have been possible because the prey was a smaller juvenile great white shark. Adult great whites can grow up to a maximum length of 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) and weigh up to 2.5 tons.
The study suggested that the swiftness of the attack by Starboard may indicate its skill and efficiency as a predator. This could be a result of the stress of hunting near shorelines where humans are plentiful.
Towner mentioned in an email that while it is not certain if the killer whale has become more sophisticated, the quick manner in which it killed the shark demonstrates impressive skill and proficiency.
Images of white shark with a white film covering its body observed 0.4 km off the coast of Carpinteria, California
Images of white shark with a white film covering its body observed 0.4 km off the coast of Carpinteria, California
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The livers of great whites make up about a third of their body mass and are full of lipids. Orcas, on the other hand, are picky eaters and only consume the liver, leaving the rest of the carcass behind. This behavior is similar to other carnivores like harbor seals, brown bears, and wolves, as noted in the study.
Dr. Simon Elwen, the founding director and principal scientist at Sea Search Research & Conservation, along with being a researcher at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, commented on the findings. He mentioned that the observations shared in the study shed more light on the abilities and habits of these two killer whales.
Elwen, who was not part of the study, emphasized the significance of observing and comprehending the hunting behaviors of killer whales in South Africa. Killer whales, being intelligent predators, have the ability to quickly acquire new hunting strategies either independently or by observing others. This knowledge plays a crucial role in expanding our understanding of these fascinating animals.
Editor's P/S:
The article on orcas hunting great white sharks in South Africa is both fascinating and concerning. It reveals the remarkable hunting abilities of orcas and their potential impact on the marine ecosystem. The fact that a single orca, Starboard, managed to kill a juvenile great white shark in just two minutes highlights the predator's skill and efficiency.
However, the article also raises concerns about the potential consequences of this behavior for great white sharks. The orcas' preference for the nutrient-rich livers of great whites could lead to a decline in the shark population, as the orcas are known to target sharks repeatedly. The study also suggests that the presence of killer whales hunting sharks could be linked to broader ecosystem dynamics, including climate change and industrial fishing. Further research is needed to understand the full impact of this behavior on the marine ecosystem.
