Killer whales have increasingly been preying on dolphins in recent years. A recent report shows that now, new research indicates they have also devised a gruesome hunting strategy to target the livers of young great white sharks.
Hunting the world’s most formidable fish is no small feat, but the pod of killer whales in the Gulf of California has learned how to do it. They work together to flip the shark upside down, immobilizing it, and then extract its energy-rich liver for sharing.
Additionally, they have been captured on video executing this behavior.
Is this brutal behavior typical of killer whales? Yes, Professor Callum Roberts, a marine biologist at the University of Exeter not associated with the study, stated to BBC Science Focus.
“Orcas may be the most intelligent marine creatures, based on their innovative methods for hunting. Historically, killer whales targeted whales caught by industrial whalers and consumed their tongues.”
While killer whales have been observed preying on adult great white sharks in the past, these recent findings provide the first evidence of their strategic hunting techniques against them.
During their observations, the research team noted the pod killing not one, but two great white sharks in August 2020, and another pod consuming a third in 2022.
By pushing the shark to the surface and inverting it, the killer whales induce a state of tonic immobility in the shark due to the abrupt change in environment. In this vulnerable state, they can take what they want from the shark while leaving the rest behind.
Young sharks lack the experience to escape when a group is approaching. Researchers suggest that this implies killer whales may be hunting great whites more frequently than previously thought, as per findings in Frontiers of Marine Science.
“I believe that killer whales that target elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are capable of finding great whites whenever they choose,” said the study’s lead author, Eric Higuera Rivas.
“This behavior showcases the killer whales’ intelligence, strategic mindset, and advanced social learning, with hunting techniques evolving and being shared across generations within their pods.”
Climate change may play a significant role in this behavior. The intensification of the El Niño phenomenon, which results from warming in the Pacific Ocean, is expanding the habitat of great white sharks into killer whale territories. These regions are populated with young, inexperienced sharks, making them easy targets.
Experts worry that this behavior could be detrimental for the shark population.
“What benefits killer whales might not bode well for sharks. Both species are endangered,” Roberts noted. “Let’s hope they don’t spread these hunting strategies too widely.”
About our experts
Callum Roberts serves as Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter and previously held the position of Chief Scientific Advisor for BBC One. He has authored several books, including the “Blue Planet II” series and Oceans of Life: How our oceans are changing (Penguin Books, £22) and Coral Reef Life (Profile Book, £12.99).
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
