In a rare and chilling display of marine predation, scientists in Mexico have captured multiple incidents of orcas — also known as killer whales — hunting young great white sharks and consuming their livers. The findings, published this week in Frontiers in Marine Science, mark the first documented cases of such behavior in Mexican waters.
While orca pods in South Africa, Australia, and California have previously been observed targeting sharks, this is the first recorded evidence from the Gulf of California, suggesting the emergence of a new hunting pattern among orcas in the region.
Coordinated Attacks Caught on Drone Footage
In one incident filmed in August 2020, researchers used underwater cameras and drone footage to document five female orcas working together to attack a young great white shark. The footage shows the orcas flipping the shark upside down — a technique that induces tonic immobility, a temporary paralysis — before precisely removing and sharing its energy-rich liver.
A few minutes later, the same group attacked another young shark in a similar manner, again consuming the liver. Two years later, in August 2022, a mixed pod of orcas was recorded repeating the same behavior at the same location.
According to the study, this pattern shows clear evidence of learned and repeated hunting strategies, indicating that these orcas have mastered an efficient and coordinated technique.
Efficient and Risk-Free Hunting Strategy
“Prey handling and inducing tonic immobility may be more easily achieved in smaller white sharks compared with larger individuals, thereby reducing the risk of injury,” the researchers wrote.
The study further noted that the consistent method of attack — flipping the shark and targeting the liver — underscores the intelligence and adaptability of orcas.
A Growing Threat to Shark Populations
Lead author Erick Higuera, a marine biologist and wildlife cinematographer with Conexiones Terramar, said he was surprised to find orcas returning to the same area in different years to hunt white sharks.
“This may suggest that juvenile white sharks are becoming a regular seasonal prey target for orcas,” Higuera explained. “It represents a potential new pressure on already vulnerable shark populations.”
He added that the research helps expand understanding of orca ecology in the Gulf of California and could support future conservation efforts for both species.
Expert Reactions: A Learned Cultural Behavior
Marine biologist Alison Towner of Rhodes University, South Africa — who was not involved in the study — called the evidence “strong” and said drone footage has been transformative in understanding such interactions.
“This new footage from Mexico lets us compare behavior across different orca groups and shark populations,” she told CNN. “It appears to be specific to certain orca groups that have learned this technique, and once it’s learned, it becomes part of their hunting culture.”
Towner emphasized the significance of the orcas’ focus on shark livers, which are nutrient-dense and large relative to body size. “For orcas that know how to safely handle a shark, the nutritional reward is very high,” she added.
A Rare Glimpse Into Nature’s Intelligence
The study not only broadens scientific understanding of orca hunting behavior but also highlights how quickly these intelligent predators can develop and pass on complex survival strategies within their pods — reinforcing the idea that culture, learning, and cooperation are as vital in the ocean as they are on land.
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