Suspected Killer Whale Predation As Shark Carcass Washes Up In Australia

In a startling discovery along Australia’s southwest coast, a majestic great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) met a grisly fate, believed to be at the merciless hands – or rather, fins – of a pod of killer whales (Orcinus orca). These two apex predators occasionally cross paths, and the dynamics of their encounters vary depending on the location and the circumstances. Yet witnesses and a researcher have pieced together the narrative that unfolded near Cape Bridgewater, just west of Portland, Victoria, where the lifeless shark’s carcass appeared to have been violently torn in two.

One of the most well-documented regions for orca versus great white shark interactions is off the coast of South Africa, particularly near Seal Island in False Bay. Here, orcas have been observed hunting great white sharks, and are known for their precision attacks (often flipping the sharks upside down to induce a state of paralysis called tonic immobility). It’s believed that orcas target the energy-rich livers of the sharks, leaving the rest of the carcass behind. In the waters of the Pacific Northwest, off the coast of the United States and Canada, there have been accounts of orcas interacting with great white sharks with documented instances of orcas spotted near areas where sharks congregate. There have been several reported interactions and incidents along the coasts of both Australia and New Zealand, too, with researchers working to understand the frequency and patterns of these interactions.

Ben Johnstone, a seasoned fisherman and bait shop manager, estimated the shark’s length at about ten feet (three meters) when he inspected the remains following a tip-off on a fateful Tuesday. The harrowing injuries to the shark led him to strongly suspect the involvement of orcas. “It’s probably a once in a lifetime experience to see something like that. Every now and then [a killer whale] will grab a tuna off of some poor anglers’ line,” he said. The grim discovery follows a recent shark attack on a swimmer in Beachport and the sighting of a great white shark by tuna fishers off Cape Jaffa, both just across the border in south-eastern South Australia. And a mere two days prior to this disturbing find, a pod of killer whales had been spotted circling in the bay by nature photographer Allen McCauley.

Notoriously finicky eaters, killer whales have a well-documented preference for certain shark species, including white sharks, mako sharks, bronze whalers, sevengills, and even tiger sharks. In an odd culinary twist, they also display an appetite for sunfish intestines and dugong intestines, a rather peculiar menu choice, according to Flinders University trophic ecologist Dr. Lauren Meyer. Though not entirely clear-cut, Meyer leans towards the likelihood of a killer whale targeting the great white shark with the intent of savoring its liver, an unfortunate fate commonly observed in interactions between these apex predators.

The incident was reported to authorities, and the shark’s remains were collected and scrutinized. Valuable data and samples were dispatched to government agencies and academic institutions. “I’m not surprised to see this in a place like Portland,” Meyer told ABC. “We know there are white sharks that go through that area and use it as an important corridor. We also know that it’s a place for killer whales where they hunt a number of different prey items.” Meyer and her research team at Flinders University are part of a global effort to compile a comprehensive database on interactions between sharks and killer whales. These elusive marine giants remain shrouded in mystery due to their infrequent encounters with humans. “They’re relatively elusive and each different pod and ecotype has such specific behaviour that it’s hard to draw conclusions across all of killer whales because they all act so differently.”

Meyer underscored that researchers will persist in examining the Portland incident, focusing on telltale rake marks and the genetic remnants left behind, including traces of saliva. Such studies promise to shed light on the intricacies of the complex relationship between killer whales and great white sharks in these coastal waters, adding another layer to our understanding of these oceanic ecosystems.

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