The enemy of the great white shark in the ocean.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - In the ocean world, the great white shark has long been considered a symbol of power and dominance, a top predator with virtually no natural enemies.

Great white sharks are gradually losing their power and dominance in the ocean (Photo: Getty).

However, recent observations have shaken this position as scientists have noted another species that can cause great white sharks to flee: the orca (scientific name: Orcinus orca ).

The perfect predatory killer in the ocean.

Recently, researchers recorded footage of a pod of unrelated killer whales off the coast of Mexico deliberately attacking great white sharks (scientific name: Carcharodon carcharias), showcasing an extremely sophisticated hunting strategy.

According to reports from a research team led by marine biologist Erick Higuera Rivas, these orca pods are known as Moctezuma pods. They exhibit incredible coordination abilities.

Instead of lunging and tearing like ferocious predators, they take advantage of the phenomenon of "tongue immobility," a state in which sharks become limp and motionless when flipped upside down.

Camera footage captures killer whales in the Gulf of California hunting great white sharks (Photo: Science Alert).

The group of five adult sharks worked together to flip their prey over, rendering the shark completely helpless, and then precisely extracted its liver. This is also the organ containing the most fat and energy in the shark's body, making it a prime target for predators.

According to Higuera, this is a clear manifestation of high intelligence, social learning abilities, and complex strategic thinking in killer whales, as hunting skills are passed down through generations.

Records indicate that at least two such hunting incidents occurred in August 2020 and August 2022, suggesting the possibility that this is a cyclical, seasonal behavior, possibly coinciding with periods when juvenile sharks are abundant.

A new habit emerging, or a centuries-old enemy?

It is known that after killing their prey, killer whales often share their livers with the entire pod, including the calves. This behavior demonstrates the close-knit social structure of this species.

Shark livers are an attractive target because of their large size and abundant squalene content, which helps sharks maintain energy during long migrations.

For killer whales, this is an ideal source of nutrition and a well-deserved reward for a perfect hunting strategy.

Killer whales are becoming a threat to great white sharks (Photo: Getty).

Marine ecologist Salvador Jorgensen of California State University added: “When killer whales appear, adult great white sharks immediately evacuate the area and may not return for months.”

But the young individuals don't seem to recognize this threat." The question is whether the great white shark's fearful response is an innate instinct or a behavior learned through experience.

Since the 1990s, there have been scattered reports of killer whales attacking cartilaginous fish, but the Moctezuma pod is the only known instance of a group specifically preying on great white sharks.

Therefore, it is not yet possible to confirm whether "shark hunting" is a long-standing habit of killer whales, or whether it has only been observed recently.

According to biologist Francesca Pancaldi of the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine Science in Mexico, understanding this predatory behavior will not only help decipher more about the biology of killer whales, but also contribute to identifying key habitats for establishing conservation areas and managing the marine environment more effectively.

New findings reveal that the line between "apex predators" in the ocean is no longer static. Even species that once struck fear into the hearts of the ocean, like the great white shark, can sometimes become prey in nature's game of survival, where intelligence and adaptability are the most formidable weapons.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/ke-thu-cua-ca-map-trang-duoi-dai-duong-20251104080242265.htm