Video: Orca’s Solo Attack on Great White Shark

This marks the first documented instance of a solitary orca hunting and consuming a great white shark. While orcas were previously observed hunting great whites in groups or pairs, witnessing an individual orca hunting alone is unprecedented. This discovery indicates the development of a novel hunting tactic.

In 2022, reports surfaced detailing how a pair of male orcas, named Port and Starboard, were identified as the culprits behind fatal assaults on numerous great white sharks over a span of five and a half years along South Africa’s Gansbaai coast.

DICT Researchers Identify Port and Starboard as Culprits in Great White Attacks

Researchers from the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) pinpointed Port and Starboard as the perpetrators, relying on distinctive bite marks found on eight great white carcasses washed ashore. In seven instances, the orcas had consumed the shark’s liver, known for its high nutritional value.

Undoubtedly, numerous other sharks, whose remains were never recovered, likely fell prey to the orcas over the years.

Later in 2022, the team released footage capturing five orcas collaborating to hunt down several great whites within an hour. Although Starboard was among them, the other four orcas were previously not known for preying on sharks. This discovery suggested that predatory behavior might be spreading within the local orca community.

Now, Starboard returns to the spotlight.

In recent images and videos captured by scientists and tourists on two vessels, Starboard is observed hunting and killing a juvenile great white, approximately 2.5 meters (8 feet) in length, before devouring its liver. Despite Port’s presence in the vicinity, Starboard acted independently and transitioned from stalking to consumption in under two minutes.

Orca’s Solo Predatory Behavior Observed Near Mossel Bay

The orca was observed carrying the liver in its mouth as it passed by one of the boats. It is suspected that shortly before or after, the orca killed another great white, as the carcass of a 3.55-meter (11.6-foot) shark, eviscerated, washed up on the shore the following day. This incident occurred near Mossel Bay, where a previous attack by an orca pack had taken place.

“This observation presents evidence of solitary hunting by at least one killer whale, challenging the conventional understanding of cooperative hunting behaviors in the region,” stated lead scientist Dr. Alison Towner, who is associated with both DICT and South Africa’s Rhodes University. “These findings provide groundbreaking insights into the predatory habits of this species, significantly enhancing our understanding of killer whale predation dynamics on a global scale.”

A paper detailing the research was recently published in the African Journal of Marine Science. You can view some of the video footage below.

Read the orginal article on: New Atlas

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