Orca targeting sharks?

At least three of the sea predators have been killed in Cape waters by what appears to be killer whales.

Shark safety programme Shark Spotters recorded a 4.9m female white shark found dead along a Gansbaai beach on 2 May.

There was a large gaping hole between her pectoral fins where they were torn apart to reveal her body cavity, but it wasn’t until a necropsy (animal autopsy) was performed days later that it was discovered that her large liver, which can constitute up to a third of her weight, was completely missing.

Shark Spotters say this information, combined with the recent sightings of Orca and the disappearance of white sharks in the area, provides evidence Orca killed the shark.

Further evidence was the discovery of a second shark, a 3.5m male in the same area, with the same wounds last Thursday.

Shark Spotters project manager Thomas Morris said the removal of the liver is indicative of an Orca attack.

KILLERS AT LARGE: Shark Spotters attend to a white shark apparently attacked by an Orca. CREDIT: Harry Stone

Yesterday morning, Shark Spotters confirmed another shark had been found dead.

He said Orcas posed no danger to humans as they were not present close to beaches.

“We have a had a very quiet season compared to others. We have been interested in finding out why. This shows us there has been a great collection of Orcas moving sharks away from Gansbaai,” he said.

Department of Environmental Affairs’ spokesperson Zolile Nqayi confirmed that two of the dead sharks which washed up in Gansbaai were victims of

predation with their livers removed “and wounds and bite indentations consistent with what would be expected in an Orca attack”.

“Orcas have been spotted in and around False Bay and Gansbaai with their occurrence appearing to be more common around South Africa mainland in recent years,” said Nqayi.