From tourist hotspot to marine mystery: where are the great white sharks?
Summary
Great white sharks have disappeared from the coastal waters near Cape Town, South Africa, where they were once commonly seen. Scientists found that orcas, also called killer whales, are likely attacking the sharks and eating their livers, causing the shark population to drop sharply.Key Facts
- Cape Town's waters were famous for great white sharks and had many seals for sharks to hunt.
- Around 10 years ago, shark carcasses began washing ashore with their livers missing.
- The number of great white sharks in this area has dropped a lot, making sightings very rare.
- Shark expert Chris Fallows used to see hundreds of great whites each year but now sees none.
- Marine biologist Alison Kock found small sharks dead with cuts that looked surgical but showed tooth marks, not knife marks.
- Kock and her team saw orcas near where shark carcasses were found, linking orcas to the attacks.
- Orcas seem to target shark livers because they are very rich in calories and make up a large part of the shark’s body.
- This discovery helps explain why great whites have disappeared from this popular location.
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