Killer Whales Documented Hunting and Consuming Whale Sharks

Marine biologists in Mexico reveal orcas' coordinated tactics to target the world's largest fish, including immobilizing them to access vital organs.

Researchers observed four incidents between 2018 and 2024 in the Gulf of California where orcas hunted whale sharks using strategic, cooperative methods.
The orcas flipped the whale sharks upside down to induce tonic immobility, rendering the sharks defenseless and unable to escape.
The pod focused on the ventral side of the sharks, targeting the pelvic area to access nutrient-rich organs like the liver and heart.
A male orca named Moctezuma was identified in three of the four hunts, with other pod members playing key roles in these coordinated attacks.
Scientists suggest climate change may be influencing whale shark movements and prey availability, potentially increasing interactions with killer whales.