Orcas Target Young Great White Sharks in Gulf of California

A specialized pod of orcas, known as Moctezuma’s pod, has been observed engaging in a remarkable predatory behavior in the Gulf of California. These orcas have been seen targeting young great white sharks, employing a unique technique of flipping them upside-down to consume their nutrient-rich livers. This behavior suggests that orcas may be adapting to changes in their environment, particularly warming waters that affect shark nursery areas.

Marine biologist Erick Higuera Rivas, project director at Conexiones Terramar and Pelagic Life, emphasizes the intelligence and strategic thinking of these orcas. “Orcas that eat elasmobranchs—sharks and rays—could eat a great white shark if they wanted to, anywhere they went looking for one,” he stated. His insights reflect the advanced social learning and hunting techniques passed down through generations within orca pods.

Documented Hunts Reveal New Insights

The orcas were recorded conducting two hunts that resulted in the deaths of three juvenile white sharks. Researchers, during routine monitoring, identified the specific individuals involved based on the unique characteristics of their dorsal fins. During the first documented hunt in August 2020, five orcas were seen pursuing a juvenile white shark, successfully flipping it upside-down and ultimately extracting its liver. A subsequent hunt in August 2022 followed a similar pattern, with the orcas targeting another juvenile shark.

This technique of inverting a shark induces a state known as tonic immobility, which temporarily paralyzes the shark, making it easier for orcas to access its organs. “This state renders the shark defenseless, allowing the orcas to extract its nutrient-rich liver and likely consume other organs as well,” explained Higuera.

Observations indicate that juvenile white sharks may lack the experience to evade orcas effectively, which could explain their vulnerability. “This is the first time we are seeing orcas repeatedly target juvenile white sharks,” remarked Dr. Salvador Jorgensen of California State University. He noted that while adult white sharks quickly vacate areas when orcas are present, these younger sharks may be more naive and less aware of the threats.

Environmental Changes and Orca Behavior

The changing distribution of white sharks in the Pacific Ocean may have provided Moctezuma’s pod with new hunting opportunities. Climate phenomena, such as El Niño, appear to have altered the nursery areas of white sharks, increasing their abundance in the Gulf of California. As a result, juvenile sharks may be more exposed to predation by orcas, presenting a seasonal opportunity for these apex predators.

While these observations are compelling, researchers acknowledge the need for a more extensive survey to understand the dietary habits of orcas better. Dr. Francesca Pancaldi of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas highlighted the challenges of gathering data, noting that fieldwork is costly and orca hunting patterns are unpredictable.

The scientific community aims to uncover more about these interactions. “Generating information about the extraordinary feeding behavior of killer whales in this region will help us understand their critical habitats,” Pancaldi added. This understanding could inform conservation efforts and management plans to mitigate human impact on these marine ecosystems.

The findings were published in Frontiers in Marine Science on November 3, 2025, offering a glimpse into the complex dynamics of marine predator-prey relationships and the adaptability of orcas in changing environments.