Orcas, also known as killer whales, are known apex predators that prey on various species, including large sharks like bull sharks, blacktips, and great whites, using coordinated attacks and techniques such as "lob-tailing" or "tail-slapping."
Recent observations and reports from marine protected areas like Cabo Pulmo National Park in the Gulf of California suggest an increase in orca predation on large shark species, indicating that sharks may play a more significant role in their diet than previously thought.
Three specific orcas are believed to be responsible for the shark attacks observed in Cabo Pulmo National Park between 2022 and 2023, representing the first documented predator-prey interactions between orcas and sharks in the area.
The availability of innovative cameras, including drones and citizen science efforts, has facilitated the documentation of orca predation events on species like white sharks in South Africa and Cabo Pulmo National Park.
In some regions, orcas have intimidated and scared away great white sharks, leading to the relocation of shark populations, as evidenced by recent shark carcasses washed ashore in South Africa.
Orcas are flexible consumers due to their complex cognitive abilities, allowing them "predatory access" to various marine species, including large sharks, potentially leading to shifts in ecological dynamics.
One expert compared the situation to the Jets and Sharks in "West Side Story", expressing concerns about the potential impact of orcas hunting sharks, as apex predators like sharks play a key role in the ecosystem.
The abundance of sharks in Cabo Pulmo National Park has increased, potentially facilitating interactions with orcas, and the absence of sharks in certain areas coincides with the presence of orcas, similar to the impact of orca predation on white shark populations in South Africa.
Orcas have been observed hunting and dismembering white sharks for their nutritional value, particularly their liver and guts, in previous studies, and instances of orcas preying on sharks have been documented over 50 years.
Experts are unsure if the phenomenon seen in South Africa, where orcas scared away great whites, might happen in the Gulf of California due to different shark populations, and uncertainty looms over the future as orcas and sharks interact in the Atlantic Ocean.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: livescience.com, nypost.com, yahoo.com, and frontiersin.org.