How are there any whale sharks alive? Slow reproduction and minimal defenses.
How are there any whale sharks alive? Slow reproduction and minimal defenses.
Orcas likely assessed that this is the most efficient way to feed on whale sharks. They also seem to really like shark liver.
I remember a story years ago of a pod of orcas off the coast of California caught hunting a great white by some whale watching boat. One of the orcas surfaced with the shark's liver, almost as if it was showing off a trophy to the whale watchers. The story is that the orcas appeared to be ramming into a great white to get it to turn inverted.
Edit (related video): [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS6NjdGLVZs ]
Sharks tend to have a physiological vulnerability which is similar to paralysis when they are inverted. This vulnerability makes them very easy prey. (This is called tonic immobility)
Orcas in another geographical are said to have an entirely different method of hunting/killing based on the prevalence of a different type of prey (manta rays maybe?). The animals are likely one of the most intelligent species on Earth.
Orcas likely assessed that this is the most efficient way to feed on whale sharks. They also seem to really like shark liver.
I remember a story years ago of a pod of orcas off the coast of California caught hunting a great white by some whale watching boat. One of the orcas surfaced with the shark's liver, almost as if it was showing off a trophy to the whale watchers. The story is that the orcas appeared to be ramming into a great white to get it to turn inverted.
Edit (related video):
[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS6NjdGLVZs ]
Sharks tend to have a physiological vulnerability which is similar to paralysis when they are inverted. This vulnerability makes them very easy prey. (This is called tonic immobility)
Orcas in another geographical are said to have an entirely different method of hunting/killing based on the prevalence of a different type of prey (manta rays maybe?). The animals are likely one of the most intelligent species on Earth.
(post is archived)