South African orcas have been stunning scientists with their hunting tactics along the country’s coastline. Since at least 2017, a pair of orcas has been collaborating to kill great white sharks, primarily targeting their nutrient-rich livers. This behavior has not only driven the sharks away from certain areas near Cape Town but has also raised questions about its implications for the wider marine ecosystem.
In a recent study published in the African Journal of Marine Science, researchers shed light on the unprecedented hunting approach of the orcas. The study details how one of the orcas, known as Starboard, swiftly killed a juvenile white shark in just two minutes, showcasing a unique and solitary hunting behavior.
Dr. Primo Micarelli, a marine biologist who witnessed the orcas’ impact on the local white shark population, expressed concern about the ecological balance in coastal marine ecosystems. The orcas’ ability to hunt large predators like great whites individually challenges conventional cooperative hunting behaviors observed among orcas in the region.
Lead author of the study, Alison Towner, revealed that previous attacks on great whites involved multiple orcas and lasted up to two hours. However, the recent observation of Starboard hunting alone highlights a shift in hunting patterns and raises questions about the orcas’ evolving predatory behavior.
The event, which took place near Seal Island close to Mossel Bay, showcased Starboard’s efficiency as a predator, potentially influenced by the stress of hunting in areas with high human presence. The researchers suspect that the abrupt shift in the orcas’ hunting strategies could be linked to broader changes in the marine ecosystem, emphasizing the need for further research and funding to understand these dynamics better.
Overall, the study provides groundbreaking insights into the predatory behavior of these killer whales and their impact on the marine environment. As researchers strive to unravel the mysteries behind the orcas’ hunting techniques, the presence of these shark-hunting killer whales continues to pose challenges and raise important questions about the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.