'Infamous' killer whale pair devour 17 sharks in single day off South African coast

An “infamously” blood-thirsty pair of orcas who devoured a complete of 17 sharks in a single day have baffled marine biologists with their insatiable urge for food.

The duo – who’ve been on the radar of scientists since 2015 – slaughtered 17 sharks off the coast of South Africa late final month, gorging themselves on the animals and leaving their carcasses to drift ashore at Pearly Beach, a village situated alongside the southernmost tip of the nation.

Marine biologist Dr Alison Kock mentioned the orcas had solely eaten livers of the broadnose sevengill sharks, an odd follow she’d noticed within the pair for eight years.

The carcasses of 17 sharks have been discovered after the suspected orca assaults. (Marine Dynamics )

“At least 17 sevengill sharks have been killed by infamous killer whale pair Port and Starboard this week in South Africa,” Kock mentioned on Twitter.

“Only the livers were eaten with the leftover carcasses washing ashore.

“We first noticed this pair searching sevengill sharks in False Bay, Cape Town in 2015 … the drama did not cease there.

“In 2017, this pair then started targeting great white sharks, ultimately resulting in the sharks abandoning established aggregation sites.”

Kock defined orcas study from experimenting with prey and might “remember” particular varieties of meals that they’ll then proceed to hunt.

“They likely initially learn by experience when first predating a new species,” she mentioned.

The killer whale duo has been described as “infamous”. (Marine Dynamics )

This implies that as soon as the orcas are conscious of the liver’s location on a shark, “they will remember it forever and become more efficient”.

Shark livers are extremely nutritious and comprise giant ranges of fat and nutritional vitamins.

“Orcas may have learned that consuming shark livers provides high energy and nutrients,” Kock advised Live Science.

“Sharks’ livers are large and buoyant, and they float to the surface of the water when a shark is killed.

“This makes them straightforward for orcas to identify and entry, in comparison with different organs that will sink to the underside or be tougher to find.”