Researchers have made a discovery for the South African coast that confirms earlier assumptions, namely that orcas focus on large white sharks and especially on their entrails. The whales even effectively driven sharks from two bays. The scientists could also observe an attack from an orca on a shark.
The scientists noticed that white sharks in two bays became increasingly rare. “As far as I know, there were fewer than ten confirmed observations in 2024,” Esther Jacobs from the Shark Protection Organization told the Guardian. In the past, these were often found in the bay near the coastal town of Gansbaai and Mosselbaai, about 300 kilometers away.
Two male orcas in the visor of the researchers
In 2017, researchers began to investigate the carcasses of large white sharks, which were washed up in fully torn state on the coast: some missed their liver, some missed their hearts. Orkas were soon suspected as attackers. Two male orcas in particular were the target of the scientists, but they were initially unable to catch “port” and “starboard” in the act.
The attack of an orca on a large white shark is displayed here:
But it was noticeable that large white sharks did not return to the area for a long time after such attacks, sometimes a few weeks and once even stayed away for a whole year. For the coast of Gansbaai, 800 to 1,000 animals had previously wandered around.
Attack “impressive and shocking” according to eyewitness
Only in 2022 was a brutal orca attack on a large white shark from a drone. Five orcas attacked a shark in mussel bay and bite the liver of the animal between his chest fins. “Starboard” was one of the attackers. A year later, researcher Jacobs was able to observe an attack live from the boat. “It was both impressive and shocking,” she said, describing the scene when Starboard opened a big white shark in front of her eyes. ‘Port’ was also quickly noticed at the crime scene.
Since the incident in 2023, the animals have hardly returned to the area, Jacobs continues. This causes ecological problems, Alison Towner explains. The population of Cape Pels Robben has increased considerably in the area: “In my opinion, the populations could have helped great white sharks at their previous level to make the rabies situation harmless, because rabid seals would probably be easier targets.”
Source: Krone
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