A pod of orcas has been observed hunting young great white sharks in the Gulf of California, utilizing a unique technique to flip the sharks upside-down and access their nutrient-rich livers. This behavior highlights the orcas’ advanced intelligence and adaptability in response to changing environmental conditions. The specialized group, known as **Moctezuma’s pod**, appears to be exploiting the warming waters that have altered shark nursery areas, making juvenile sharks more vulnerable.
During routine monitoring, scientists documented two separate hunts in which the orcas successfully killed three juvenile great white sharks. Marine biologist **Erick Higuera Rivas**, who is the project director at Conexiones Terramar and Pelagic Life, noted that this behavior indicates a significant shift in predatory patterns. “Orcas that eat elasmobranchs—sharks and rays—could eat a great white shark if they wanted to, anywhere they went looking for one,” he stated.
The hunting strategy employed by the orcas is particularly effective. In one instance, observed in **August 2020**, five orcas worked together to pursue a juvenile white shark. They flipped it upside-down, inducing a state known as tonic immobility, which paralyzes the shark temporarily. After extracting the liver, the orcas abandoned the rest of the carcass. A similar sequence occurred in **August 2022**, further confirming this hunting technique’s effectiveness on younger sharks.
Dr. **Salvador Jorgensen**, a researcher at California State University and co-author of the study published in **Frontiers in Marine Science**, emphasized that this is the first documented evidence of orcas repeatedly targeting juvenile great whites. Adult white sharks typically flee quickly from hunting orcas, abandoning their seasonal gathering areas. In contrast, the juvenile sharks may lack the experience to escape.
The Moctezuma’s pod has previously been known to hunt rays and other shark species, and their evolving diet may correlate with changes in the distribution of white sharks in the Pacific. Climate events, such as **El Niño**, have reportedly shifted white shark nursery areas, increasing their presence in the Gulf of California. This change may expose juvenile sharks to the predatory behavior of orcas, posing new risks each season.
While the initial observations are compelling, researchers acknowledge that more extensive studies are necessary to determine whether the orcas regularly hunt white sharks or focus primarily on juveniles when available. Dr. **Francesca Pancaldi**, co-author of the study from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, noted, “So far, we have only observed this pod feeding on elasmobranchs. There could be more.”
The ongoing research aims to provide a clearer understanding of the orca population’s dietary habits. As scientists gather more data, they hope to identify critical habitats and inform management plans to mitigate human impact on these remarkable marine creatures.
This groundbreaking research underscores the dynamic relationships within marine ecosystems and the necessity for adaptive conservation strategies in the face of climate change.
