Spectacular photographs present killer whales preying on nice white sharks in South Africa.
some scientists used a helicopter and a drone to seize the primary aerial photographs. orcas searching and killing nice white sharks.
Watch the predator grow to be prey right here:
On Might 16, 2022, an hour-long killing spree of an orca herd in Mossel Bay was captured from above.
Though marine biologists have lengthy recognized that killer whales can assault great whitesHe had by no means been caught on digicam like this earlier than.
The photographs had been introduced as a part of a program. paper Revealed in The Ecological Society of America Ecology In October, it provides a recent perspective on the conflicts between two main sea predators.
“This habits has by no means been witnessed intimately earlier than, and definitely not from the air,” stated lead writer Alison Towner, a senior shark scientist on the Academy of Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai, South Africa.
Solely two killer whales have beforehand been linked to searching nice whites in South Africa, and solely one in all these, together with 4 different killer whales, has been noticed on digicam footage. Subsequently, the authors consider the habits can unfold.
The examine additionally offers new insights into sharks’ makes an attempt to evade seize by orcas.
In two instances, orcas approached the sharks carefully and slowly, and as a substitute of fleeing, the shark stayed near the orca to keep watch over it – a typical technique utilized by seals and turtles to keep away from sharks.
So, perhaps sharks which can be positioned in an unconventional searching place are mimicking the habits of their prey?
Nonetheless, orcas are social and hunt in teams, and so researchers consider it is probably not as efficient for sharks to make use of on this scenario.
Stellenbosch College analysis fellow and Director of Sea Search, Dr. “Killer whales are very smart and social animals. Their methodology of searching in teams makes them extremely efficient hunters,” stated Simon Elwen.
The examine confirmed {that a} infamous killer whale recognized domestically as Sanjak was a part of the chamber and ate what was suspected to be a big piece of shark liver on the ocean floor. The photographs additionally revealed how one other killer whale bit a white shark within the liver space.
“I first noticed Starboard in 2015 when he and his carefully associated Harbor had been linked to killing seven gill sharks in False Bay,” stated David Hurwitz, a boat-based whale watching operator with Simon’s City Boat Firm.
“We noticed them kill a bronze whaler. [copper shark] In 2019 – however this new remark is actually one thing else.”
The brand new examine additionally analyzed drone and cage dive boat survey information earlier than and after these searching occasions.
Within the weeks previous the predator, white sharks had been seen on every analysis day, and huge numbers of sharks had been seen on the day of the hunt.
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