Orcas in Gulf of California Target Young Great White Sharks

Orcas have been observed in the Gulf of California, off the coast of Mexico, engaging in a remarkable hunting strategy targeting young great white sharks. New research released on October 1, 2023, reveals that these marine mammals flip the sharks upside down to incapacitate them before consuming their nutrient-rich livers. This behavior marks a significant development in the understanding of orca predation, as it is the first time researchers have documented such specialized hunting techniques targeting juvenile great whites.

The study, led by independent marine biologist Erick Higuera, includes aerial footage captured during two separate hunting events. The initial incident occurred in August 2020, when a group of five female orcas worked collaboratively to push a young great white shark to the surface and then turned it over. This act induces a state known as tonic immobility, which leaves the shark momentarily paralyzed and vulnerable. Higuera explained, “This temporary state renders the shark defenseless, allowing the orcas to extract its nutrient-rich liver and likely consume other organs as well, before abandoning the rest of the carcass.”

In a subsequent recorded event in August 2022, the same pattern was observed. Five orcas again managed to flip another juvenile shark before consuming its liver. The footage demonstrates not only the intelligence and strategic prowess of orcas but also the social learning that occurs within their pods, as these hunting methods are passed down through generations.

Research indicates that this pod of orcas is likely familiar with hunting other large species, as they were previously observed targeting whale sharks and bull sharks. However, the clarity of the second hunt’s footage was insufficient to confirm if these orcas belonged to the same pod as those in the initial event. Dr. Salvador Jorgensen, a researcher from California State University and co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of these findings. “Adult white sharks react quickly to hunting orcas, completely evacuating their seasonal gathering areas and not returning for months,” he noted. “However, these juvenile white sharks may be naive to orcas.”

The study also raises questions about the adaptive behaviors of juvenile great whites. It remains unclear whether their responses to predator threats are instinctual or learned through experience. As the research progresses, scientists hope to uncover more about the dynamics of these interactions.

Dr. Francesca Pancaldi of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas suggested that these observations could lead to crucial insights regarding orca feeding behaviors and habitat requirements. “Generating information about the extraordinary feeding behavior of killer whales in this region will lead us to understand where their main critical habitats are,” she stated, emphasizing the need for protected areas to mitigate human impact on these marine ecosystems.

In a previous instance in 2022 in South Africa, a pod of orcas was documented chasing sharks in an hour-long pursuit off the coast of Mossel Bay, highlighting the growing evidence of orcas as apex predators of the ocean. This latest research underscores the complex interactions within marine food webs and the adaptability of apex predators like orcas in their quest for sustenance.