Orcas have been in the news for quite some time, and now these killer whales are making headlines for hunting whale sharks. As the name suggests, these whales are apex predators who feast on aquatic animals ranging from small fishes to large ones like other whales. However, they do not have natural predators as per the food chain.
Orcas are indeed the rulers of the sea, as they are the top predators. They hunt in packs and eat anything, from fish to sharks.
Recently, Orcas were spotted hunting whale sharks in a pod. According to SWNS, researchers have found that Orcas have gained special hunting skills. In the Gulf of California, a group of orcas were found preying on the world's largest fish using special tactics. This is something unusual for their behavior.
The pack of killer whales coordinated with each other and attacked whale sharks, which can be as long as 59 feet, per reports. For the unversed, orcas also travel in groups and are known for their coordination.
The attack was observed for the first time as a pod of orcas targeted young whale sharks, according to experts in Mexico.
Four such attacks have been reported between 2008 and 2024 in the Gulf of California. These attacks have been captured in images and footage by both the observers and the general public.
How do killer whales attack whale sharks?
Researchers have observed the movements of killer whales' pods as they attack these much larger aquatic animals. A marine biologist named Erick Higuera Rivas has revealed that orcas have a unique way of hunting whale sharks. He said,
"We show how orcas displayed a collaboratively hunting technique on whale sharks, characterised by focusing on attacking the pelvic area causing the whale shark to bleed out and allow orcas access to the lipid-rich liver."
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He also revealed that one individual orca was involved in three of four attacks, suggesting that this whale might be part of a pod that possesses a unique specialization. It was a male orca named Moctezuma.
All pod members work together and "hit the whale shark" so that it turns upside down. The whale shark then enters a state of immobility and cannot escape or move. They then attack the shark's pelvic area and extract the organs that have important nutrition for their bodies.
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