earlier this year Researchers in South Africa observed killer whales hunting white sharks for the first time. and a new video of this chase It reveals that killer whales are more involved than they previously thought. Part of a new study that sheds light on the chase. The video showed as many as five killer whales taking part in the chase and attacks on the news sharks. which makes scientists suspect They may be transmitting this chase through culture.
The stunning video, first released as part of Discovery’s Shark Week, was first captured on May 16 by writer Christiaan Stopforth. szel at the same time Helicopter pilots have made several short takeoffs. and was able to record some interactions between killer whales and great white sharks using his cell phone in charcoal.
When these two video sources are combined, Researchers have released the first evidence of an orca killing a great white shark. “This behavior has never been seen with evidence before. And it certainly never happened,” lead author Alison Towner said in a statement.
“At least two, maybe three great white sharks were killed by a group of killer whales on May 16 at Mossel Bay. It took about 71 minutes,” the report’s authors said. Only two killer whales had previously been linked to the killing of the great white shark. Therefore, it is important to see all 5 killer whales attacking at the same time.
in their study The researchers explained that “A killer whale forced a great white shark into a corner. and how to incapacitate it,” which they described as one time Killer whale overturns shark to paralyze it Before biting the abdomen behind the pectoral fins This tactic causes the shark’s liver to come out through the wound and float to the surface. before the killer whales to eat as a tonic According to the authors of the study, the liver of a single adult white shark well meets the daily energy requirements of a mature male killer whale. So it can tell where the shark’s carcass, which had previously had bite marks around its pectoral fins and liver, had disappeared.
The researchers also described how sharks attempt to evade killer whale siege by staying out of their line of sight. Such tactics are often used by seals and turtles to avoid being seen. but may not have much effect Because killer whales hunt in packs
Great white sharks are famous and feared creatures in Mossel Bay, but things are no longer the same. when they were not seen in the weeks after the attack Because they chose to make the area a wide berth. A commercial shark cage dive operator reported no sightings for 45 days after the incident and no other sharks were seen until July 1, 2022.
“The sharks eventually abandoned their former prime habitat. This has a significant impact on both ecosystems and shark-related tourism,” said researcher Alison Kock.
After analyzing the image The researchers concluded that “Killer whales are hunting more great white sharks in South Africa than just the two previously identified,” he said . It would have a wide-ranging impact on shark populations. And there may be more serious research and studies in this area,” they said.
Ref : Ecology , iflscience
