In a jaw-dropping moment of nature’s raw power, a newly released drone video from South Africa shows a group of orcas attacking and consuming a great white shark. The footage, aired during Shark Week on Discovery Channel, offers the first documented evidence of orcas preying on great whites in the region—a behavior previously known but never captured with such vivid detail.
The video, filmed off the coast of Mossel Bay in southwestern South Africa on July 27, 2024, reveals three orcas working in unison to subdue and feast on the massive predator. It’s a chilling reminder of the relentless and often brutal dynamics of nature, where the strongest rule the food chain.
A Rare and Shocking Sight
This behavior, while known to marine biologists, had never before been documented so clearly in South Africa. Marine biologist Alison Towner, a leading expert in shark and orca behavior, told The Daily Beast that the drone footage represents a groundbreaking moment in marine research.
“We’ve never seen orcas hunting great whites like this in South Africa before,” Towner said. “It’s the first direct evidence of orcas preying on great whites in this way.” The footage, showing orcas attacking a 2.5-meter-long shark, quickly made waves online and became a major talking point among wildlife enthusiasts and researchers alike.
The Orcas’ Methodical Attack
What’s perhaps most fascinating about this encounter is the way the orcas hunted the great white. The three orcas surrounding the shark clearly had a plan, focusing on the shark’s vulnerable organs, particularly its liver—a nutrient-rich organ that is a prized delicacy for orcas. After completing their meal, the orcas calmly swam away, leaving behind a trail of blood in the water. It’s a reminder of how the ocean’s apex predators operate in an environment where survival often means exploiting the vulnerabilities of others.
Towner, who has been studying marine life for years, described the footage as “one of the most remarkable pieces of natural history ever captured on film.” The footage not only reveals the incredible hunting abilities of orcas but also sheds light on a previously misunderstood aspect of their diet and behavior.
Why Are Great White Sharks Fleeing ?
This video also brings attention to an emerging trend in the marine ecosystem: since orcas have been targeting great white sharks, many of the sharks have been abandoning certain areas. According to a 2022 study in the African Journal of Marine Science, the arrival of orcas in specific regions has caused great white sharks to flee, likely due to the perceived threat of these powerful predators.
Towner confirmed that great whites often avoid areas where orcas are present. “We have all the evidence we need that orcas are responsible for the deaths of these great white sharks,” Towner explained. “However, these drone images are the first in the world to capture orcas actively hunting and feeding on a great white shark.”
It’s a fascinating—and somewhat unnerving—turn of events, as the delicate balance of the ocean’s food chain shifts with the orcas’ growing influence. This unprecedented footage offers us an inside look into how orcas, with their remarkable intelligence and social coordination, continue to push the boundaries of what we know about marine predators.
A Growing Understanding of Orcas’ Power
The orca, also known as the killer whale, has long been known for its intelligence, social structure, and complex hunting strategies. With this new footage, researchers are able to better understand how orcas might be impacting the populations of other marine creatures, including the iconic great white shark.
While the great white shark is often portrayed as the ultimate predator, this video serves as a humbling reminder that, in the world of nature, there is always a larger predator. The orca, often called the “wolves of the sea,” is proving just how dangerous—and sophisticated—it can be when it comes to hunting other ocean giants.
This footage also raises important questions about the shifting dynamics in our oceans. As orcas expand their hunting territories and strategies, it’s possible that the relationship between predator and prey in these ecosystems will continue to evolve in ways that are still not fully understood.
