No contest — the shark always flees. Both the great white shark and the killer whale or orca are fearsome top predators. But of the two massive animals, the killer whale may be the more formidable one, a new study has found.
They are the only known predators of great white sharks. Since 2017, eight attacked great whites have washed up on the shores of South Africa, according to Gizmodo's Isaac Schultz. The sharks were missing hearts and livers—evidence that they had been killed by orcas.
It's pretty much common wisdom that the top predator in the ocean is the great white shark (that is, if there isn't a remnant population of megalodon hidden somewhere in the deep).
The short answer to this is no. A great white shark simply cannot overpower a whale. Researchers are only aware of a handful of instances where sharks have been found feasting on a killer whale carcass, but unconfirmed of how they died.
Hour after hour of small bite after small bite, the orcas would slowly whittle megalodon down. Still, if there were a single mistake, megalodon would easily dispatch the orca in a single bite, but another would always be there to take its place.
Orcas are apex predators, which means they're at the very top of the food chain and they have no predators. Killer whales are some of the largest and most powerful animals in the ocean, and no other predator is able to challenge them.
shark: Rare drone footage shows killer whales mauling great whites. Drone and helicopter footage captured off the coast of South Africa provides what scientists say is the first direct proof that orcas are capable of hunting and killing one of the world's largest sea predators: the great white shark.
Great white sharks, to be exact. But the true ruler of the sea is the killer whale. Killer whales are apex predators, which means they have no natural predators. They hunt in packs, much like wolves, which are also at the top of their food chain.
Even though saltwater crocodiles are large and armored, they're not strong enough to fight off a killer whale. If orcas can kill great white sharks, they can kill saltwater crocodiles.
“It's very unusual that they're afraid of anything—or seemingly afraid.” Interactions between killer and pilot whales have only been scientifically documented a few times, and Samarra is among the first scientists to have observed this behavior in Iceland.
It's Official: Great White Sharks Are Scared Of South African Orcas.
Killer whale
Killer whales may be the only animals on our list that actually prey on great white sharks. Otherwise known as orcas, these intelligent mammals belong to the dolphin family and are probably the top predators in the entire ocean.
What do orcas eat? Looking at all populations, orcas are generalist eaters, consuming fish, seals and sea lions, dolphins and porpoises, sharks and rays, large whales, cephalopods (octopods and squids), seabirds and more.
A killer whale would win a fight against the largest great white ever. The only case in which an orca could potentially be killed by a great white is if the largest great white took on the smallest orca, and even then, it would be at a bit of a size disadvantage.
A pod of orcas has been observed hunting and eating the planet's largest animal – the blue whale – off the coast of Australia.
Marine biologists have discovered an enormous great white shark they're calling the "queen of the ocean" off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Sperm whales are the world's largest predator, with males reaching lengths of up to 67 feet (20.5 meters) and weights of up to 90 tons (81 metric tons). Females are slightly smaller, reaching lengths of up to 33 feet (10 meters). Sperm whales are found in all the world's oceans, but prefer deep waters.
In my life, one of the most inspirational animals is the eagle which is known as "the king of the bird kingdom". The eagle is a bird of nature. Known for its strength and flying ability at high altitudes.
Sharks and dolphins are two of the most formidable creatures in the ocean, but while sharks are often seen as fearsome predators, they are known to be intimidated by dolphins.
They discovered that certain copper compounds, like copper acetate, when combined with other ingredients, could mimic the odor of a dead shark and drive live sharks away from human beings in the water.
ESDs aim to overwhelm a shark's electro-sensory system. They emit electrical pulses (each one does so in a different way) that are supposed to repel the shark. So far, ESDs have been the most effective type of personal shark repellent.
When it comes to predator/prey relationships, the killer whale is an apex predator and isn't known to have natural predators. That is except humans, parasites, and diseases, which can significantly affect a killer whale's health.
Because of their intelligence and social nature, orca whales are unlikely to attack humans out of aggression or hostility. In fact, there have been numerous instances of orca whales coming to the aid of humans who were in danger, such as when a group of orca whales helped a diver escape from a shark attack.