Watch as Killer Whales Take On Sharks in Epic Battle of Nature

Several disemboweled sharks washed up on a South African beach, bringing attention to a pair of shark-hunting killer whales whose behavior has awaken marine biologist’s interest. They killed at least 17 sharks in one rampage.

In Gansbaai, a small fishing port almost 100 miles southeast of Cape Town, beach walkers stumbled upon the grim sight, alerting marine biologists to the find. “The dead sharks are torn open at the pelvic girdle, have Orca teeth marks known as rake marks on their pectoral fins and lack their livers,” said Alison Towner, 37, a shark scientist with the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.

All evidence points to “Port” and “Starboard,” an infamous pair of killer whales spotted off Gansbaai only three days earlier. With their twisted dorsal fins, the animals are well known to locals.

According to Ralph Watson, a marine biologist at Marine Dynamics Academy, 20 sharks were found in total. They included 19 broad-nosed seven-gill sharks and one spotted gully shark. A total of 17 shark corpses washed ashore last week, according to Towner, making this the largest number of sharks killed by these orcas at one time.

It was the first time Port and Starboard had hunted those species in the area, and “so many washed out after one hunt.” Towner said the slaughter was noticeable.

Experts attributed the absence of white sharks from the waters off Cape Town to Starboard and his four companions. Last year, a helicopter and drone witnessed their assault on a great white in Mossel Bay. This behavior was documented in a study released in October, something never seen previously. “This behavior has never been observed so closely before,” remarked Towner upon the release of the findings.

Christiaan Stopforth, who shot the drone footage, posted video of the deadly interaction on Instagram. “This was definitely one of the most exiting days of my life, filming these animals and observing them is a feeling you will not be able to describe to people,” Christiaan wrote.

In these parts, orcas hunt dolphins and prey on smaller shark species, but attacks on great white sharks have been rare.

In 2015, Port and Starboard were first spotted near Cape Town. We don’t know where they came from. West Africa, east Africa, the Southern Ocean, we don’t know,” said Simon Elwen, 45, of Sea Search.  Their peculiar fins have become a common sight in the region since the pair hunts near the coast, unlike other killer whales.

Port and Starboard can be seen from Namibia to Port Elizabeth in southern Africa, said Elwen.  “They target sharks’ livers, which are very nutritious and full of oils,” Watson explained, describing their killing technique as “surgical.” “They tear open the pectoral girdle chest area… then the liver flops out,” Watson said.

Researchers were concerned after watching the 2022 video showing Starboard in action, because it suggested the practice was spreading, since studies have established that the animals can teach hunting skills.

Additionally, the authors of last year’s study said the attacks confirmed sharks have a flight response.  “The sharks ultimately abandoned former key habitats, which has had significant knock-on effects for both the ecosystem and shark-related tourism,” said South African National Parks’ marine biologist, Dr. Alison Kock.

According to Towner, this is now an additional threat to shark populations in coastal South Africa.  The sight of “a rare, endangered animal killing another endangered species” fascinated and frustrated Elwen.

Port and Starboard posed very little danger to South Africa’s shark population overall. Watson estimates that hundreds of thousands of sharks are fished out of the sea each year.

“Two killer whales are not going to wipe out a species,” Elwen said.

 

 

Sources: CBS News, UsaToday