There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
This is then again that pretty new study which gives quite strong reason to believe, that quite unlikely we ever hear about great white shark, which would challenge orca.
Quote from that:
"Displacement of white sharks and ight response. Acoustic tag detections documented the abrupt and consistent flight of white sharks from SEFI in 2009, 2011, and 2013 (Figs3 and SI). In the best-documented instance, killer whales from two separate pods (oshore and transient ecotypes; Table1) arrived at SEFI on November 2, 2009, when 17 previously tagged white sharks were present. Killer whales were present at SEFI for just over 2.5 hours between 12:48 and 15:30 local time, remained on the western side of SEFI during approach and initiatedthree separate killing bouts on pinnipeds, then departed tothe north. There were no observations of direct predation on white sharks, and all tagged animals were later conrmed alive through acoustic detections; still predations on untagged white sharks could not be ruled out.
Desertion of SEFI by all tagged sharks followed the foraging behavior of killer whales close to SEFI. Regular daily detections of 17 tagged animals at two stationary acoustic receivers moored on eastern and western sides of SEFI (SI) discontinued abruptly following the appearance of killer whales (Fig.3). Overall, the mean number of white sharks detected per day at SEFI declined from a seasonal maximum to zero for the remainder of the season. Declines in detections followed a spatial gradient, immediately subsiding at the western receiver most proximal to killer whale observations, followed by a tapering of detections over the following hours at the eastern receiver (Fig.3). Seven hours and 50 minutes following the event, no tagged sharks remained within receiver range at SEFI and 16 individuals (of 17 displaced tagged sharks) were not detected at SEFI again until the following season (July 2010 or later). One individual returned a week later (November 8), and was detected at SEFI three times over 73 minutes, before departing and being re-detected at Año Nuevo Island (ANI) on November 24."
Then there is this: "In 1997, an orca was seen ramming into a great white shark off the coast of San Francisco. The force of the blow stunned the shark and gave the orca the opportunity to flip the great white over and hold it in that position."
I think, that it is this same case, described here: "And it's a scene captivating marine researchers around the world -- a 20-foot-long (six metre) female Orca killer whale attacking and feeding on a 10-foot (three metre) Great White shark.
It was captured on video last by wildlife enthusiasts on a cruise sponsored by the Oceanic Society.
Their boat arrived on the scene after taking a radio transmission from a fisherman who'd seen two Orca killer whales near the Farallon Islands, off the coast of San Francisco, California.
It was a female with a smaller whale, perhaps her own offspring, swimming in the area. Witnesses say the female veered toward a dark shape seen nearby, and then surged to the surface with a Great White shark in her jaws."
That looks like a case, where female killer whale killed great white shark practically alone, while her offspring was nearby.
I took that case just to show, that also statement, that orca´s hunt sharks only in pods is controversial. Maybe someone knows that case better, I just briefly looked some information.
Plain and simple, killer whales are in another league. Size, agility and especially intelligence, being the overwhelming factors. They are not called "the wolves of the sea" for nothing.
To avoid the potential Orca vs Shark issue, this will be my only input.
Orcas killing fully grown adult Great White Sharks
