Scientists have confirmed that a great white shark found dead on a beach in Victoria, Australia, in October was killed by killer whales. The shark's belly was ripped open, and its liver was missing, with bite wounds laden with killer whale DNA.
Dr. Adam Miller of Deakin University announced the findings after swabbing the bite marks. 'We were able to confirm that those bite wounds were just loaded with killer whale DNA. So it's a bit of a smoking gun,' he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
The carcass was discovered at Bridgewater Bay, with the head and spine intact but the liver absent. Killer whales are known to target shark livers, which are nutrient-rich. 'They effectively suck out the liver. They're really picky eaters, these things,' Miller said.
Killer whales had been spotted in the area before the attack, including two known males named Bent Tip and Ripple. While orcas have been seen harassing great whites in Australian waters, this is the first documented killing of a great white by killer whales in the region.
Similar incidents have been recorded off the coasts of California and South Africa, where great white numbers have declined due to increased orca predation. Scientists suspect that killer whales may be passing on hunting techniques through cultural transmission.
