A lone orca devoured a great white shark within two minutes off the coast of South Africa, concerning scientists about the ecological implications of such incidents. The deadly orca only consumed the nutrient-rich liver of the shark and discarded the rest.
The orca is part of a duo that has unprecedentedly driven away sharks from the region. Such ferocious hunts have increased along the coastline since 2017.
Marine biologist Primo Micarelli said that “the profound impact these killer whales have on the local white shark population,” as per CNN. “Despite my awe for these predators, I’m increasingly concerned about the coastal marine ecology balance,” he added.
The predator paid has been named Port and Starboard. The duo has been observed swimming South Africa’s eastern coastline. They have also been spotted near Namibia.
“This sighting revealed evidence of solitary hunting by at least one killer whale, challenging conventional cooperative hunting behaviors known in the region,” Alison Towner, a Rhodes University scholar told CNN.
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