By NewsBlogger One sentence summary – On 18 June 2023, scientists documented for the first time a killer whale, known as Starboard, hunting and eating a great white shark alone off the coast of Mossel Bay, South Africa, specifically targeting the shark’s liver, challenging conventional understanding of cooperative hunting behaviors among killer whales and providing new insights into their predatory behavior.
At a glance
- On 18 June 2023, a killer whale named Starboard was documented hunting and eating a great white shark alone off the coast of Mossel Bay, South Africa, a first-of-its-kind event.
- Starboard and his male companion, Port, have been under observation by an international research team led by Dr. Alison Towner from Rhodes University since 2022.
- The killer whales have been seen hunting white sharks along South Africa’s eastern coastline, with researchers believing they began targeting great whites as early as 2015.
- The solitary nature of the hunt and the selective feeding behavior, where the orca targeted the liver of the great white shark, challenges the conventional understanding of cooperative hunting behaviors among killer whales.
- This incident provides valuable information for future conservation and management strategies, suggesting that orcas may be driving sharks away from certain coastal areas by targeting their livers.
The details
Remarkable Incident Off South African Coast
On 18 June 2023, a remarkable incident was captured off the coast of Mossel Bay in South Africa. Scientists released footage of a killer whale, also known as an orca, hunting and eating a great white shark alone. This is the first documented instance of such an event. The entire incident lasted only two minutes, from the initial strike to the extraction of the shark’s liver.
Starboard: The Killer Whale
The killer whale involved in this incident is known to the scientific community as Starboard. Starboard and his male companion, Port, have been under observation by an international research team since 2022. Dr. Alison Towner leads the team from Rhodes University. Starboard and Port have been seen hunting white sharks along South Africa’s eastern coastline. Researchers believe they began targeting great whites as early as 2015.
Unique Hunting and Feeding Behavior
What makes this incident unique is the solitary nature of the hunt. Orcas are known to hunt large animals individually and in groups. However, this is the first recorded instance of a killer whale killing a great white shark alone.
This solitary predatory behavior challenges the conventional understanding of cooperative hunting behaviors among killer whales. Another intriguing aspect of this event is the selective feeding behavior demonstrated by the orca. The footage was captured by a tourist boat and later studied in the African Journal of Marine Science. It showed that the orca targeted the liver of the great white shark, extracted it, and discarded the rest of the carcass.
The livers of great whites make up about a third of their body mass and are rich in lipids. This makes them a highly nutritious food source. This behavior provides new insights into the predatory behavior of orcas. It suggests they may be driving sharks away from certain coastal areas by targeting their livers.
Notably, during this incident, Starboard’s companion, Port, was present but did not participate in the attack. This incident has given scientists a unique glimpse into the behavior of these marine apex predators. It provides valuable information that can be used to inform future conservation and management strategies.
