It may seem that the true ruler of the ocean is black and white – but not in the way you might think. While the great white shark has long been considered the apex predator, surprising new footage has revealed a solo killer whale devouring one. Such an event has never been seen before.
Videos captured by tourists and scientists aboard a boat off the coast of Mossel Bay, South Africa, were crucial to scientific observations published in a new study in the African Journal of Marine Science.
“The astonishing predation represents unprecedented behaviour underscoring the exceptional proficiency of the killer whale”, said the paper’s corresponding author Dr Alison Towner from Rhodes University, South Africa.
Those on the boat watched as a 2.5m (8.2 ft) juvenile great white shark appeared – and, shortly afterwards, a killer whale nicknamed Starboard (because of its collapsed dorsal fin). Starboard immediately seized the young shark’s left fin and thrust it forward several times before disembowelling it.
Why? It's likely the whale was after the shark’s nutrient-rich liver. The mammal gruesomely revealed the fish’s innards to the tourist boat as it left the scene of the attack. The whole event took place in just two minutes.
Later, the scientists discovered the second carcass of a great white nearby – this one measuring 3.6m (11.6ft).
In 2022, the same research team discovered that killer whales could hunt great whites in pairs. When hunting together, killer whales (also known as orcas) can combine their intelligence and strength to surround and attack prey. But this is the first time one has been caught hunting a great white on its own.
The new discovery will improve scientific understanding of killer whale behaviour and marine ecosystems. However, more than just an exciting observation in the natural world, the attack is cause for concern among some ecosystem scientists.
They worry that if killer whales eat too many great whites, it could throw the food chain into imbalance. This could even cause a mid-level predator to rise to the top – challenging the great white for its position of alpha predator.
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“Upon reaching Mossel Bay’s Seal Island, the scent of shark liver oil and a noticeable slick indicated a recent kill,” said boat passenger Esther Jacobs, from the marine conservation initiative Keep Fin Alive.
“Witnessing a white shark's fin break the surface initially sparked excitement, but that turned to a sombre realization as Starboard swiftly approached. The moment Starboard rapidly preyed on my favourite shark species was both devastating and intensely powerful.”
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