A series of new photographs and videos captured in the Gulf of California show exactly how the killer whales are hunting the world’s largest fish. <\/p>
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are known to prey on a variety of marine life, including mammals, turtles and fish. Now, a pod of orcas in the Gulf of California appears to have developed unique hunting techniques to target whale sharks \u2013 the largest fish in the world.<\/strong><\/p> Whale sharks<\/a> \u2013 which can grow up to 18 metres long \u2013 often gather in specific locations in the Gulf, where juveniles and smaller individuals are more vulnerable to predators. Anecdotal evidence has suggested that orcas<\/a> may be exploiting this opportunity, but it wasn’t until now that researchers had photographic and video evidence.<\/p> A team of marine biologists documented four separate events in which orcas were observed hunting these massive sharks.<\/p> \u201cWe show how orcas displayed a collaborative 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,\u201d says Erick Higuera Rivas, a marine biologist at Conexiones Terramar and senior author of the study published in\u00a0Frontiers in Marine Science<\/a><\/em>.<\/p> \u201cOne individual was engaged in three of the four events, alongside other members who might belong to a pod specialised in hunting sharks.\u201d<\/p> The documented predation events occurred between 2018 and 2024 in the southern Gulf of California. These instances were captured through photos and videos taken by both scientists and members of the public. By examining these images, researchers identified individual orcas based on the unique markings on their dorsal fins and scars.<\/p> A male orca, nicknamed Moctezuma, was present in three of the four recorded hunts. In one instance, he was joined by a female orca previously seen with him, suggesting they may belong to the same pod or even be related.<\/p> \u201cWhen hunting, all pod members work together, hitting the whale shark to turn it upside down. In that position, the sharks enter a state of tonic immobility and can no longer move voluntarily or escape by going deeper,\u201d Higuera Rivas explains. \u201cBy keeping it under control, the orcas then have greater ease and speed in approaching the pelvic area of the shark and are able to extract organs of nutritional importance for them.\u201d<\/p> Researchers believe orcas target the less-protected ventral side of whale sharks, where there is less muscle and cartilage, making it easier to access vital organs such as the aorta. Although whale shark livers are highly nutritious and known to be a valuable part of orcas\u2019 diets, there was no photographic evidence of the orcas consuming the organ during these hunts.<\/p> This behaviour suggests that some orcas in the Gulf of California may have developed specific skills to prey on whale sharks. While similar techniques could exist in other regions, documentation is limited.<\/p>
Orcas vs whale sharks<\/h2>