DNA tests reveal orcas behind white shark's death in Australia

Australian scientists have recently conducted a study on a white shark carcass that washed up on a beach in Portland, Victoria. What remained of the shark was merely its head and spine. The team utilized DNA testing to discover what killed one of the most perilous marine predators.

The shark's remains, which were found entirely gutted, appeared on shore in October 2023. Scientists worked to uncover the circumstances of the creature's death, their initial hypotheses being confirmed.

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Autopsies and DNA tests revealed that the shark fell victim to killer whales, also known as "shark killers". These marine mammals dismantled and consumed the shark's liver. Its body was noticeably marked with the genetic code of the killer whales - reports Live Science.

After examinations, we found characteristic bite marks in the chest area, i.e., between the fins under the belly, typical of orcas. The mammals aim to consume the shark's liver - Professor Adam Miller from Deakin University in Victoria, the lead analyst in this study, told ABC Radio.

In life, the shark measured almost 16 feet long. It was discovered to be an adult.

This is the first recorded case of such an attack off the Australian coast, although orcas preying on white sharks is a global occurrence.

Such attacks have taken place in places like the Republic of South Africa. The remains of bitten sharks have been repeatedly discovered along its coastline.

Australian scientists highlight that a pod of orcas was seen around Bridgewater Bay just days before the carcass of the white shark was found ashore.

Researchers plan to monitor this phenomenon, as the frequency of such attacks could indicate a looming threat to the white shark species.

Frequent orca attacks could endanger the Australian population of great white sharks, already reduced to a critically small number of breeding individuals - Professor Miller added.