- Orcas are generally known to work together to capture large prey.
- But for the first time an orca has been seen individually killing another orca.
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When it comes to the ocean’s top predator, the great white shark most likely comes to mind.
But there could be a candidate to occupy the top of the food chain.
For the first time, an orca has been seen individually killing and consuming a great white shark, and in just two minutes.
Orcas are generally known to work together to capture large prey such as sea lions, seals, other whales, and also sharks.
When hunting as a team, they can surround their prey and use their combined intelligence and strength to attack.
For the first time, an orca has been seen individually killing and consuming a great white shark, and in just two minutes.
They can also hunt large animals, such as seals, individually.
But this is the first time an individual killer whale has been seen preying on what is one of the world’s largest predators, the great white shark, off the coast of Mossel Bay in South Africa.
Dr Alison Towner, from Rhodes University, led an international research team into the discovery by analyzing images captured by tourists on a nearby boat.
She said: “What we witnessed was an orca, nicknamed Starboard, due to its collapsed dorsal fin, acting alone to incapacitate and consume a great white shark in a staggering two-minute period.
‘Starboard was observed preying on a 2.5 meter (8.2 ft) juvenile white shark, and then carrying the shark’s liver in its mouth past a boat.
‘The analysis of the Starboard images surprised us. We did not know that this species of shark was capable of hunting alone and in such a rapid period of time.
“This shows how competent and skilled he is: a true apex predator.”
During the interactions observed in this event, at least two great white sharks died, as evidenced by the discovery of a second 3.55 meter (11.6 ft) carcass nearby.
During the observed interactions of this event, at least two great white sharks died, as evidenced by the discovery of a second carcass measuring 3.55 meters (11.6 ft) nearby.
Esther Jacobs, of the marine conservation group Keep Fin Alive, witnessed the event firsthand.
She said: “I have worked with great white sharks for many years and, for me, they are always a beautiful and powerful sight to see.”
“Witnessing an orca take down one of these incredible sharks so quickly and efficiently, reducing it to easy prey, was mind-blowing, but heartbreaking.
“White sharks already face enough battles just trying to live in our overfished oceans, let alone lose their place in the food chain.”
In 2022, Dr. Towner’s team was behind the discovery that a pair of killer whales were working together to hunt and kill great white sharks off the coast of South Africa.
The researchers, whose findings were published in the African Journal of Marine Science, said understanding the dynamics of killer whale predation is important for marine conservation efforts.