Killer whale hunts and eats great white shark | BBC News

A solitary killer whale, or orca, has been filmed hunting and killing a great white shark in an “astonishing” attack off the coast of South Africa.

Scientists said it was “unprecedented” and showed the exceptional predatory skills of killer whales.

Two orcas in particular off South Africa’s coast have been observed before working together to hunt and kill sharks, including great whites.

Dr Alison Towner, a marine biologist from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, led the study.

“This caught us off guard,” said shark biologist Dr Towner.

Footage credits included:
Sea Search/Discovery
Leigh Carter, Go Dive Mossel Bay

Still photography credits:
Christiaan Stopforth

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#Sharks #Orcas #KillerWhales #SouthAfrica #BBCNews

36 comments
  1. What wasn't stated is that the Orca had been self-dieting for some time and then couldn't keep up the diet
    any longer. Feeling a bit dizzy, it was time to load up on protein and what better source than a Great White shark?

  2. Orcas are more intelligent than great white sharks and weigh 9 to 10 tonnes. You can’t imagine the force exacted on its targets. Being less intelligent the great white bites first, the orca knows the crack. Great whites are beautiful but deadly, they don’t have cognitive reception to defer from seals so they kill. Orcas are bigger, faster and stronger. To all the victims, this is for you. X

  3. What actually stands out is the people who news outfits bring on and pretend they are experts on this topic.. You will NEVER see an Orca/s eating a white shark.. You WILL see (if lucky) them killing it, and eating their livers ONLY… Why? Uhm.. Because of the nutrients maybe!?! Don't even need a degree to understand this.. These s0rry excuses for 'experts' are second only to those who proclaim that Orcas are actually wales.. BBC..

  4. It’s not easily obtained nothing there is great Minerals in the liver it could be a dietary supplement! The liver to them is like Vitamin C capsule to Us!

  5. 1:03 How is this guy a marine mammal scientist without knowing animals prefer the liver due to its nutritional value? Also a shark is not a terrifying creature to the much bigger and smarter Orca. Orca's are superior in pretty much every way.

  6. The commentator is tight with some of her words….Says a lot……eating liver because its the best most nutritious flesh there…..No rocket science….BBC
    Bird Brian Corporation

  7. I think what's happening with those boats is the I think the propellers have probably killed a few members of their paws and they're just going after boats in general mainly looks like the Rutter's look like they were pushing the rudder into the propeller

  8. They attack from the side to damage the organs, shutting the shark down internally; Therefore they can’t run, or even react to the attack.

  9. "…Leave scientists wondering how shark-eating orcas are affecting the food chain." Dude, it's nature doing nature. If anyone has upset the balance by introducing non-native species and overfishing, polluting, etc, I think humans are at the top of the disturbance list.

  10. That is a male orca that thing's probably 25 to 28 ft long about 10,000 lb it is not to be f*** with not even a great white shark that thing can handle anything you want by himself

Leave a Reply