Orcas Paralyze and Feed on Great White Sharks in Gulf of California

Orcas have been filmed attacking juvenile great white sharks in the Gulf of California, paralyzing them before consuming their livers. The study, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, demonstrates the advanced intelligence and hunting strategies of orcas.

Researchers report that orcas flip the sharks over, inducing "tonic immobility," a state of paralysis. This allows the orcas to remove the sharks' nutrient-rich livers. The phenomenon was first recorded in August 2020 and repeated in 2022.

Salvador Jorgensen of California State University noted that adult great white sharks leave the area when they detect orcas, while juvenile sharks appear to be more vulnerable. Researchers believe that attacks may increase due to climate change.

Erik Higguera Rivas of Conexiones Terramar emphasized that hunting techniques are passed down from generation to generation in orcas.