Overview
- Researchers published a peer‑reviewed analysis on November 3 in Frontiers in Marine Science using footage from hunts recorded in 2020 and 2022.
- Two events in 2020 resulted in three juvenile great white shark deaths, with a similar group hunt documented again in 2022.
- The orcas flip sharks onto their backs to trigger tonic immobility and then slice them open to remove energy‑rich livers, behavior consistent with pod‑specific hunting culture.
- Juveniles are the targets in Mexico, contrasting with South Africa where adult great whites have been attacked, and scientists note potential ecosystem effects if predation increases.
- Researchers cite improved video and drone monitoring and climate‑linked shifts in shark distribution as factors in increased detections and call for broader surveys to measure frequency.