Overview
- Peer-reviewed findings in Frontiers in Marine Science include new drone videos documenting the behavior in Mexico’s Gulf of California.
- Two observed hunts in August 2020 and August 2022 resulted in three juvenile great white shark deaths.
- Orcas induced tonic immobility by flipping the sharks upside down, then removed the nutrient-rich livers.
- The same group, identified as the Moctezuma pod and known for targeting sharks and rays, was confirmed by unique dorsal-fin features.
- Scientists hypothesize climate variability, including El Niño, is increasing juvenile shark presence in the area and call for broader diet surveys to assess frequency and potential ecosystem effects.