A haunting phenomenon was unfolding on the beaches of Gansbaai, South Africa in 2017. Over the course of several weeks, four great white sharks were found washed up dead along the coastline — each with its liver precisely removed. The surgical precision of the injuries puzzled locals and initially drew comparisons to scenes from horror films. Investigation by marine scientists revealed a startling conclusion: the culprits were orca whales (killer whales), which had developed a highly specialised hunting technique targeting great white sharks for their nutrient-rich livers.
Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are among the ocean’s most iconic apex predators. This series of events showed that apex predators are vulnerable. Ocean ecosystems are undergoing profound and sometimes unexpected changes. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the great white shark is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It faces pressures from overfishing, bycatch, and habitat loss. Climate-driven shifts in prey distribution also pose a threat.
The orca predation on great white sharks is not entirely without precedent. Similar behaviour had been documented in Californian waters. However, the Gansbaai incidents marked the first confirmed cases of this scale in South Africa. Researchers noted that after each orca visit, great white sharks disappeared from their usual areas around Gansbaai. This lasted for extended periods, demonstrating a powerful fear-based displacement effect even on apex predators.
The WWF notes that great white sharks play a critical role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems by regulating prey populations. Their decline or displacement can trigger cascading effects across marine food webs — a concern that is increasingly relevant as climate change alters ocean temperatures and disrupts established predator-prey dynamics.
For the full original report on this story, read the detailed account at The Epoch Times:
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How Plastic is Killing Marine Life | Climate Change: Facts and Solutions | Sustainable Development Goals — Life Below Water (SDG 14)