Orcas, better known as killer whales, have been spotted hunting whale sharks, the world’s largest shark species, that can grow up to 40 feet — which has surprised the scientists. The orca pod, using a novel and cunning technique, was found hunting and killing the whale sharks in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico. Though anecdotal evidence did exist before that orcas were capable of killing whale sharks, this is the first time that marine scientists have documented evidence that details their super ‘apex predator’ behaviour.

While it may seem that whale sharks and orcas battling it out would be one titanic battle, the reality is not as grand. According to the study published in the journal, Frontiers in Marine Science, the orcas gather at feeding sites in the Gulf of California where whale sharks are not fully grown. The young whale sharks measure three to seven metres which allows the killer whales to dominate them.

Additionally, whale sharks have tiny teeth that they do not use for any defence mechanism. Their only defence is flailing or diving down, deep into the waters, nearly 2,000 metres.

“The animals have shown us over and over again that they are extremely good at developing highly specialized strategies to target specific prey,” Volker Deecke, a professor of wildlife conservation at the University of Cumbria in the UK.

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How do orcas hunt whale sharks?

After collating and analysing media footage collected between 2018 and 2024, orcas displayed a collaborative hunting technique to kill whale sharks. They focused on attacking the pelvic area and bleeding out the whale sharks by hitting them at high speed.

The orcas then flip the victim so it is floating up and unable to dive down to escape. After the whale sharks have bled out, killer whales rip their internal organs out and consume the lipid-rich liver.

An individual adult male, nicknamed “Moctezuma” was involved in three of the four hunting events while a female orca was observed and seen participating in one event.

Ocras and their feeding habits

Contrary to popular knowledge, orcas are the largest of the dolphins, immediately recognisable by their unique black-and-white complexion. They sit atop the food chain and have a diverse diet – often consisting of fish, penguins and sea lions.

Their behaviour resembles that of a wolf pack as a deadly pod can contain up to 40 individuals. They all use effective, cooperative hunting techniques which makes them one of the deadliest creatures in the water kingdom.

A lone killer whale was captured on film hunting and killing a great white shark off the coast of South Africa. The extraordinary footage has left scientists in awe, shedding light on the remarkable predatory skills of killer whales. 

Shark biologist Dr Alison Towner, from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, was surprised at the solitary and swift attack, claiming it “caught us off guard”, according to BBC. The male killer whale executed the attack and ate the shark’s liver in under two minutes. 

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Previously, “It took two killer whales to team up to hunt sharks off the South African coast. This solo incident brings a new aspect to our understanding,” Dr Towner said. 

He revealed, “During the attacks, the sharks would tightly circle the killer whales, in a desperate attempt to avoid predation.”

Dr Luke Rendell, a marine mammal scientist from the University of St Andrews, described the recent attack as “a really beautiful observation” of behaviour, highlighting the skill demonstrated by the lone killer whale in tackling the great white shark. 

“A great white shark is a nice, big concentration of food, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that some populations [of killer whales], where these sharks occur in sufficient numbers, have learned to exploit that,” he added.

The scientists are uncertain about the driving factors behind this behaviour but, Dr Towner pointed to the increasing influence of human activities such as climate change and industrial fishing on the oceans. There are also potential health repercussions for killer whales eating sharks, including, the ingestion of toxins and metals from shark flesh. 

Dr Towner talked about the broader ecological implications, noting that disruptions in the balance of apex predators could affect other species. 

“Endangered African penguins could face increased predation by cape fur seals [if the fur seals are not being eaten by] white sharks,” she said. 

Although it is unclear whether this behaviour is observed for the first time, researchers emphasise the significance of every discovery in understanding the interactions between orcas and sharks, describing them as “fascinating.” Dr Towner concluded, “But what stands out is how skillful these animals are as hunters.”