A specialized pod of orcas, known as Moctezuma’s pod, has been observed targeting and killing young great white sharks in the Gulf of California. These remarkable hunting techniques involve flipping the sharks upside down to access their nutrient-rich livers. This behavior raises questions about the evolving dynamics between these apex predators and their prey in a changing marine environment.
Researchers documented two separate hunts during routine monitoring, with each event showcasing the orcas’ cooperative hunting skills. In August 2020, five orcas were recorded pursuing a juvenile great white shark, working in unison to turn it onto its back before taking it underwater. They emerged shortly after with the shark’s liver in their possession. A similar pattern was noted during a second hunt in August 2022, demonstrating a clear strategy employed by the pod.
According to Erick Higuera Rivas, a marine biologist and project director at Conexiones Terramar, this behavior illustrates the orcas’ advanced intelligence and social learning. “Orcas that eat elasmobranchs—sharks and rays—could eat a great white shark, if they wanted to, anywhere they went looking for one,” he stated. This insight highlights a potentially significant shift in the hunting practices of orcas, particularly as they adapt to environmental changes.
Understanding the Impact of Climate Change
The changing climate may be influencing the hunting patterns of orcas in the region. Observations suggest that warming waters could be altering the distribution of great white shark nursery areas, making younger sharks more vulnerable to predation. The juvenile sharks, less experienced than adults, may lack the necessary skills to evade such coordinated attacks.
Dr. Salvador Jorgensen from California State University pointed out that adult white sharks quickly flee from orca presence, often abandoning their seasonal gathering areas for months at a time. In contrast, juvenile sharks may be less aware of the threat posed by orcas. “We just don’t know yet whether white shark anti-predator flight responses are instinctual or need to be learned,” Jorgensen noted.
The orcas’ technique of flipping their prey induces a state known as tonic immobility, which temporarily renders the shark defenseless. Dr. Higuera explained that this method allows the orcas to extract the liver and possibly other organs while leaving most of the carcass behind.
The Need for Further Research
The findings highlight a critical need for further research into the diet and hunting habits of Moctezuma’s pod. While scientists have observed these orcas primarily targeting elasmobranchs, they are eager to understand whether hunting juvenile white sharks is a regular occurrence or a sporadic event based on their availability.
Dr. Francesca Pancaldi from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas emphasized the challenges of conducting such research, noting that fieldwork is costly and orca hunts are unpredictable. “Generating information about the extraordinary feeding behavior of killer whales in this region will lead us to understand where their main critical habitats are,” she said. Such insights could guide the creation of protected areas and management plans to mitigate human impact on these vital ecosystems.
As climate events like El Niño continue to alter marine environments, the interactions between orcas and great white sharks may evolve further. The ongoing study of these complex predator-prey dynamics will be essential in understanding the implications for both species and their habitats.
For more comprehensive details, refer to the article published in Frontiers in Marine Science, which sheds light on these novel interactions between killer whales and juvenile white sharks.
