The recent discovery from a partial autopsy of a great white shark reveals a disturbing trend – killer whales worldwide are now preying on these formidable predators, particularly targeting their livers.
Great white sharks, known as apex predators, faced a fatal encounter in October 2023 when a Carcharodon carcharias washed ashore in southeastern Australia, displaying clear signs of an attack by an unidentified species. The shark’s carcass bore four distinct bite marks, with its liver, digestive organs, and reproductive organs missing. After a thorough postmortem investigation, researchers confirmed that killer whales were responsible for the assault, focusing on consuming the shark’s liver.
The study, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, identified killer whale DNA in the primary bite area, while DNA from scavenging broadnose sevengill sharks was found in the other wounds. This incident corroborated eyewitness accounts of killer whales hunting a large prey in Bridgewater Bay shortly before the shark’s discovery.
Similar incidents of killer whales targeting the liver of sharks have been observed in South Africa and California, indicating a potential global phenomenon. The impact of these predation events on Australia’s marine ecosystem remains uncertain, although evidence from other regions suggests that a decline in great white shark populations could lead to significant ecological changes.
It is crucial to monitor these interactions in Australian waters to preserve the balance of the marine ecosystem and ensure the survival of key predators like the white shark. Further research is needed to understand the full extent of these hunting patterns and their implications for marine biodiversity.
