Jakarta –
Scientists have been researching for years why the great white shark disappeared off the coast of South Africa. Now, photos and videos confirm the theory that they were hunted by killer whales.
Drone photos and videos provide direct evidence that killer whales killed great white sharks in South Africa. “This behavior has never been observed in detail before and certainly never from above,” said marine scientist Alison Towner of the University of Rhodes in South Africa.
Killer whales have been known to attack sharks. But this drone video is the first evidence that they hunted the great white shark, known to be a ferocious predator.
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The incredible footage was captured in the port of Mossell Bay on the afternoon of May 16, 2022. The video shows three killer whales separating.
The two near the surface looked in opposite directions as if alert. Then suddenly one appeared from below and pushed a three-meter white shark to the surface.
The whale turned the shark on its side and bit its stomach, causing the blood to flow into the sea. The shark was then dragged into the depths, never to be seen again.
Shortly before the drone video, a helicopter pilot said he witnessed two sharks being eaten by killer whales in the same area. ‘Due to the overlap of time and region, we assume that the same group of killer whales were recorded by helicopters and drones,’ said the researchers.
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Great White Shark vs. Killer Whale Photo: Sea Search Research & Conservation |
The helicopter pilot said he witnessed the great white shark’s evasive tactics. When approached by an orca, the great white shark adopts tactics commonly used by seals when avoiding predators.
Instead of running away, the shark stayed close to the orca in hopes of using its agile movements to pass. However, as killer whales hunt in groups, this strategy may not work.
In recent years, great white sharks have strangely disappeared off the coast of South Africa, and scientists suspect their decline was caused by killer whales.
According to Science Alert, a dorsal-finned killer whale named Starboard was previously suspected of causing numerous shark carcasses to drift off the coast of South Africa, four of which have lost their hearts.
 The killer whale eats shark liver. Photo: Research and conservation of the sea |
The helicopter pilot said he witnessed a killer whale that looked like Starboard eating what looked like a piece of the liver of a great white shark.
On the same day, sharks were seen fleeing the area, and for weeks after killing hardly any sharks were seen in the bay. Incredible images have unraveled the mystery of the disappearance of the sharks in the area.
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