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Great White Sharks Flee From Orca Attacks

Two orca tormentors have terrorized the sharks off the coast of South Africa, setting off the shark's instincts to flee.

By Sam Walters
Jun 30, 2022 2:30 PMJul 7, 2023 4:21 PM
Sharks
Lead author Alison Towner with the carcass of a Great White Shark, washed up on shore following an Orca attack. (Credit: Hennie Otto at Marine Dynamics/Dyer Island Conservation Trust).

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When we think about the ocean, sharks are at the top of the food chain. But what if that’s not always the truth?

An article in the African Journal of Marine Science states that, for the past five years, two orca whales have hunted and sufficiently terrified the great white sharks off the coast of South Africa. According to the study, the orca’s hunting habits have forced sharks to flee, strengthening the theory that fear can change sharks' movement patterns.

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