Orcas kill great white

Writer: De Waal Steyn.

Two Orcas named Port and Starboard are believed to be behind yet another attack that killed a great white shark after the carcass of a 3.6 metre washed ashore on Saturday 4 July at De Gruis in Gansbaai.

Port and Starboard made international headlines in May 2017 when they were linked to the killing of several great whites, as well as numerous sevengill sharks along our coastline. In February this year they were responsible for the killing of a copper shark (also known as bronze whaler shark).

According to Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics, the Marine Dynamics/Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) team was notified by resident Paul de Villiers of a white shark stranding.

“We recovered the carcass and transported it to the International Marine Volunteer Lodge where the following morning a team led by DICT marine biologists collected detailed measurements, photographic, and biological samples.

Marine biologists from Marine Dynamics took part in the necropsy on the carcass of a 3,6-metre great white shark that was predated by a duo of orcas named Port and Starboard. The pair has been responsible for killing at least four great white, five broad-nosed sevengill (also known as cow sharks) and a bronze whaler shark over the last few years. Orcas are apex predators and they appear to have a predilection for organ meat. They essentially split a shark open by each grabbing a pectoral fin. The shark is flipped over and pulled apart, splitting open the throat and chest cavity exposing the large, lipid-rich liver.

PHOTO: Cari Roets, Marine Dynamics/Dyer Island Conservation Trust

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