Living up to their ‘killer’ name! Watch the ‘amazing’ moment a killer whale individually kills and eats a great white shark in just two minutes
- It is well known that killer whales work together to catch large prey
- But for the first time, an orca has been seen killing an orca individually
When it comes to the ocean’s apex predator, the great white shark probably comes to mind.
But perhaps there is a contender for the top of the food chain.
For the first time, a killer whale has been observed individually killing and eating a great white shark – in just two minutes.
It is well known that killer whales work together to capture large prey, such as sea lions, seals, other whales and sharks.
By hunting as a team, they can surround prey and use their combined intelligence and strength to attack.
For the first time, a killer whale has been observed individually killing and eating a great white shark – 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 spotted hunting one of the world’s largest predators – the great white – off the coast of Mossel Bay in South Africa.
Dr. Alison Towner from Rhodes University led an international research team to the discovery by analyzing images captured by tourists on a nearby boat.
She said: ‘What we saw was a killer whale, nicknamed Starboard – because of its collapsed dorsal fin – single-handedly taking out and eating a great white shark in an astonishing two minutes.
‘Starboard was observed preying on an 8-foot juvenile white shark, later carrying the shark’s liver in its mouth alongside a boat.
‘Analyzing the images from Starboard surprised us. We were not aware that he could hunt this shark species single-handedly and in such a quick time frame.
“It just shows how skilled and skilled he is: a true super-predator.”
At least two white sharks were killed during the observed interactions of this event, as evidenced by the discovery of a second carcass from 3.55 meters away.
At least two white sharks were killed during the observed interactions of this event, as evidenced by the discovery of a second carcass from 3.55 meters away.
Esther Jacobs, from the marine conservation group Keep Fin Alive, witnessed the event firsthand.
She said: ‘I have worked with white sharks for many years and for me they are always a beautiful and powerful sight to see.
‘To witness one of these incredible sharks being taken down so quickly and efficiently by an orca and reduced to easy prey was astonishing, but heartbreaking.
“White sharks face enough battles trying to live in our overexploited oceans, let alone losing their place in the food chain.”
In 2022, Dr.’s team was sitting. Towner behind the discovery that a pair of killer whales worked 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, say understanding the dynamics of killer whale predation is important for marine conservation efforts.