A recent study has unveiled a solitary orca’s unprecedented attack on a great white shark, highlighting a novel predatory behavior that might have significant repercussions for maritime industries.
The incident, captured in a study from the African Journal of Marine Science, took place off South Africa’s shores in June 2023. Observers noted a male orca, known as Starboard, executing a rare solo hunt on a young great white, skillfully capturing and eviscerating the shark within an astonishing two minutes, later seen holding the shark’s liver.
Typically seen hunting in pairs, Starboard’s solitary action, with his usual partner Port merely watching, marks a deviation from the known cooperative hunting patterns of these marine mammals.
The event is part of a broader narrative, with orcas in the region previously documented targeting sharks for their nutrient-rich livers. However, this instance of lone hunting by an orca offers fresh insights into the adaptability and intelligence of these apex predators.
Lead researcher Alison Towner and her team at Rhodes University are probing the implications of this behavior, suggesting it could alter the dynamics of the marine ecosystem, particularly affecting white shark populations and their migratory habits. This has potential ramifications for commercial fishing and tourism sectors, which rely on the presence of these sharks.
Further studies indicate a possible shift in white shark locales, moving away from traditional haunts to avoid orca predation, with potential overlaps in areas heavily fished by humans. The changing distribution of white sharks could impact South Africa’s tourism, known for shark-watching, and disturb the marine ecological equilibrium, as noted by marine biologist Primo Micarelli, expressing a mix of admiration and concern for the future of these marine interactions.
