Killer whales feast on great white sharks in ‘unprecedented’ attack

Three great white sharks have been killed by orcas in an “unprecedented” attack, researchers have found.

The trio of sharks, measuring between three and five metres, washed up within days of each other near the South African village of Franskraalstrand earlier this month.

All were found with gaping bite marks and were missing organs such as their hearts and livers, Shark Watch South Africa posted.

Killer whales were identified as being responsible for the deaths, after researchers spent a week performing detailed necropsies.

“All three white sharks were killed by orca via the removal of their livers,” shark biologist Alison Towner from Dyer Island Conservation Trust wrote.

“These observations are unprecedented.”

Ms Towner said evidence that orcas had hunted hunting great white sharks had created a new “grey area” in marine research.

“We don’t know how long the sharks will stay away from the area as a result of predation pressure,” she said.