They also collected 27 years of data on the population of orcas, sharks and elephant seals — which are preyed on by the sharks and orcas. The team noted four encounters between orcas and the white sharks at Southeast Farallon Island in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. “These are huge white sharks. While transient orcas would feed on the occasional elephant seal, their visits were rare and resident orcas fed on fish instead. Not many people are aware of the contentious relationship between these two apex predators, but whale-watchers have witnessed orca attacks on white sharks in the wild.

Source: National Post September 15, 2020 15:22 UTC