Orcas Develop New Hunting Techniques for Whale Sharks

Scientists have documented orcas in the Gulf of California employing cooperative hunting strategies to prey on whale sharks, the largest fish species, through detailed video evidence captured over multiple events. The orcas use a technique of ramming and flipping the sharks to induce tonic immobility, allowing them to access and consume the sharks' nutrient-rich livers. These hunting events, observed from 2018 to 2024, involved a male orca named Moctezuma, suggesting a potential role as a driving force in this behavior. The findings reveal the orcas' adaptability and specialized predation strategies, indicating potential speciation among different orca groups based on diet and hunting techniques. This behavior was captured in a study published in the journal 'Frontiers in Marine Science,' which highlights both the vulnerability of juvenile whale sharks and the orcas' formidable predatory skills.