Lone Apex Predator Slays a Great White Shark Off South African Coast

Locals of a beach in South Africa were left in shock after stumbling across the remains of an enormous great white shark on the sand. The shark had visible wounds indicating it had been attacked and partially eaten by an even larger sea animal, prompting researchers to question what could do this to such a vicious predator. 

Great white sharks are often portrayed in movies and pop culture as one of menacing sea animals who will stop at nothing to hunt their prey. While the reality isn’t far from this, the shark’s powerful bite over 300 razor-sharp teeth ensure they are amongst the most feared predators in the ocean. 

In May, locals from South Africa stumbled upon the remains of a 15-foot great white shark washed up on a beach not far from the mouth of the Nyara River. 

While examining the great white, a team of researchers discovered the shark had recently consumed a dolphin, the remains of which were neatly cut up into four large chunks in the great white’s stomach. 

As the dolphin was killed moments before the Great white, the shark’s stomach had not yet started to break down the remains of the sea animal fully. So this allowed researchers to piece the dolphin back together carefully. 

One of the most fascinating aspects of the investigation led researchers to conclude that the Shark’s liver was eaten. Yet, no other major part of the great white was missing. 

It’s hard to imagine any sea animal picking a fight with a great white and living to tell the tale. However, researchers believe they know what attacked the shark and killed it. 

Orcas are the only sea animals known to hunt great white sharks, which was a deciding factor in the researchers’ opinion on how the shark was killed. On the other hand, Killer Whales are known as apex predators as nothing hunters their species. 

In recent years, marine biologists and researchers have discovered orcas often hunt great whites and other shark species simply to eat their nutrient-dense livers. 

Before the team of veterinarians collected the great white’s body from the beach in South Africa, several trophy hunters quickly removed the teeth. 

Over the past century, orcas have seldom attacked sharks regularly. However, this has changed in recent years, and scientists claim it has become a growing trend for killer whales. 

Scientists expect this trend to continue over the next few years, and the remains of great whites and other shark species may become fairly common on beaches worldwide for one key reason. 

Deborah Giles, the science and research director for the nonprofit Wild Orca, noticed a growing and concerning trend of orcas almost wearing dead porpoises on their snouts in 2005.

Scientists first recorded this behavior in 1962 in killer whales. Since then, more than 70 observations have been reported, with 2005 having the most reported sightings.

According to National Geographic, orcas often work as a team, pushing porpoises with their snouts, holding them in their mouths, and carrying them above the water. Sometimes, the orcas will play with their victims, allowing them to escape before recapturing them.

The study discovered that this behavior was mostly consistent across the age and gender of the orcas.

While orcas do harass and kill porpoises, they do not eat them. The species of orcas known for mistreating porpoises primarily eat chinook salmon, which are endangered due to habitat degradation and other threats.

“To me, that’s the most important thing that came out of this study—is yet another spotlight shining on the fact that we need to be focusing on [the] recovery of their prey in order to make sure that these whales have enough to eat,” Giles says.

Orca behavior is still a mystery to many scientists. While they are curious, affectionate animals that often play to bond, communicate, and have fun, they are also apex predators that understand how to hunt, both for food and sport.

Anaïs Remili, a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University in Montreal, says that orcas see this sport hunting as “play.”

Another possible explanation is “mismothering,” or a misplaced attempt to care for weakened or sick young, researchers say. Nearly 70% of southern resident killer whale pregnancies end in miscarriage of calf death.

Scientists have observed mismothering before in orcas. In 2021, an orca took a baby pilot whale to care for the offspring. “She was showing protective behavior, and she was showing caregiving behavior towards the calf,” orca researcher Marie-Thérèse Mrusczok said to LiveScience.

Another possible answer to the shark attack and porpoise behavior is that orcas, much like us, learn socially and often follow trends or temporary behaviors started by one or two individuals, which others adopt before abandoning.

Some orca populations are picky eaters and have a preference for a specific type of meal that they crave.