It has been reported that a number of dead Great White sharks have been found off the coast of South Africa with their organs surgically removed their bodies. In one case the liver was missing and in other cases the heart was missing.
However, it is not believed that this is the work of humans. Instead, it is believed by naturalists that the sharks are having their organs removed by orcas, also known as 'killer whales'.
Autopsies on the sharks were carried out by White Shark biologist Alison Towner of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust team. In a Facebook post Marine Dynamics explained what she found, saying:
"The Dyer Island Conservation Trust team was called out again this morning after another deceased shark washed ashore. Alison Towner, White Shark Biologist, has confirmed that it is a 4.1m male with the exact same injuries as previously deceased sharks indicating that is an Orca predation. The team is busy with the retrieval process. Our Marine Dynamics team is offshore of Dangerpoint tracking the elusive Orca pair, Port and Starboard. These are interesting yet trying times."
Saying of the orcas they believe responsible, Marine Dynamics said:
"The pair of orcas believed to be responsible were sighted offshore of Danger Point then again in Franskraal today. Marine Dynamics cage diving boat tracked the pair. Subsequently, all cage diving boats failed to see white sharks today and it is believed the sharks may have fled the area once again."
It is thought that the orcas began killing sharks as early as May and there is no reason to believe they will stop anytime soon. Orcas are known to hunt fairly large prey, such as seals, but it is unusual for them to hunt great Whites given the sheer size of the animals.
It is suspected that the orcas are cutting out the organs surgically in order to get to the most nutritious parts of the animal and leaving behind the less useful parts of the sharks. What is more mysterious is exactly how the orcas are killing the sharks, and exactly how they are removing their organs.
[Based on reporting by: IFL Science]
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