Researchers from the University of Rhodes documented a striking predation event where two killer whales hunted and killed 17 sharks within a two-hour window. This finding has been summarized by business media as part of ongoing field observations.
Since 2009, scientists have tracked two adult male orcas, nicknamed Port and Starboard, whose movements have become a focal point of study. The animals are most frequently observed in Falls Bay, South Africa, a region where they were first identified in 2015 and have continued to roam in recent years.
During routine monitoring, researchers noted that the orcas repeatedly dove into a confined zone for nearly two hours before departing from the shore. In the days that followed, the team recovered remains of 11 dead sevengill sharks on the sand, creatures capable of reaching up to three meters in length. The investigators concluded that the two whales had killed at least 17 sharks by feeding on their stomach contents and internal organs, a finding that underscores the efficiency of their cooperative hunting strategy.
Experts observing this sequence have described the event as the deadliest known hunt in the area, highlighting how these apex predators can shape local marine ecosystems through their feeding behavior and territorial presence.
In May 2022, researchers documented footage of Starboard attacking a great white shark, an encounter that further illustrates the adaptability and boldness of these animals. The presence of killer whales in this coastal zone coincides with a noted decline in great white shark numbers, a trend that has raised concerns among conservationists and scientists alike as they monitor long-term population dynamics in this region.
Taken together, these observations contribute to a growing understanding of how resident orcas interact with a range of large prey species and how their foraging patterns may influence the broader marine food web. The records from Falls Bay offer insight into the behavioral repertoire of Port and Starboard, serving as a case study in the role of intelligent predation in shaping coastal ecosystems and informing ongoing discussions about marine conservation strategies in southern Africa.