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The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

theatlantic.com

41–50 of 71 posts

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#41

I had a bad experience with a killer whale when I was returning to San Diego from Catalina Island in my rather small Columbia 22 sailboat (this was around 1977). A killer whale jumped out of the water to the level of the top of my mast 4 times. Each time it landed horizontally right next to my boat, almost tipping the boat over with the splash/wave it created. I laid down in the bottom of the cockpit reaching up to s…

On one of the Planet Earth's (IIRC) they showed a seal on a floating slab of ice and the orcas would slap their tails and bump the ice to get the seal to slide off, the seal wore itself out and they eventually drug it into the depths.

They're uncanny smart hunters. I wonder if it was curious about you being food and trying a tactic like that? Or just curious in general and indifferent to whether you survived that curiosity?

edit: the below comment linked a video which then linked to a producer explaining the exact moment I was referring to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1VEwsI4SlY

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#42

I had a bad experience with a killer whale when I was returning to San Diego from Catalina Island in my rather small Columbia 22 sailboat (this was around 1977). A killer whale jumped out of the water to the level of the top of my mast 4 times. Each time it landed horizontally right next to my boat, almost tipping the boat over with the splash/wave it created. I laid down in the bottom of the cockpit reaching up to s…

Wow, hats off to you and that would have been so terrifying for me if I was there. I doubt I'd would've been able to even tell anyone such as your girlfriend to go below deck. Such a great story to read.

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#43

I had a bad experience with a killer whale when I was returning to San Diego from Catalina Island in my rather small Columbia 22 sailboat (this was around 1977). A killer whale jumped out of the water to the level of the top of my mast 4 times. Each time it landed horizontally right next to my boat, almost tipping the boat over with the splash/wave it created. I laid down in the bottom of the cockpit reaching up to s…

Clearly he was challenging you to a race.

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#44

I had a bad experience with a killer whale when I was returning to San Diego from Catalina Island in my rather small Columbia 22 sailboat (this was around 1977). A killer whale jumped out of the water to the level of the top of my mast 4 times. Each time it landed horizontally right next to my boat, almost tipping the boat over with the splash/wave it created. I laid down in the bottom of the cockpit reaching up to s…

On one of the Planet Earth's (IIRC) they showed a seal on a floating slab of ice and the orcas would slap their tails and bump the ice to get the seal to slide off, the seal wore itself out and they eventually drug it into the depths. They're uncanny smart hunters. I wonder if it was curious about you being food and trying a tactic like that? Or just curious in general and indifferent to whether you survived that cur…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBRu3LGceAg

they do it to humans too. they are highly intelligent, so the options are vast. so similar to humans, they could be training, teaching, playing, angry, curious, etc.

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#45

I had a bad experience with a killer whale when I was returning to San Diego from Catalina Island in my rather small Columbia 22 sailboat (this was around 1977). A killer whale jumped out of the water to the level of the top of my mast 4 times. Each time it landed horizontally right next to my boat, almost tipping the boat over with the splash/wave it created. I laid down in the bottom of the cockpit reaching up to s…

I’m not sure about how orcas work. But in Norway you can dive with them (not recommended because you disturb them) and not a single person has been attacked there in recorded history (~200 years). It may be that it was just curious about you, but heck they might just wanted a snack as well.

those are likely fish eating orcas who specialize on a single species of fish. i wouldn't try that with mammal eating orcas.

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#46
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems innocuous to me. It doesn't give false impressions in the way so many article titles do these days, just a hook for finding out what the predator is.

It gives the impression that something new has been discovered. So in this case is a clickbait, you have to click and find out something that is known, maybe not well known but I wouldn't say a secret. I personally knew about Orcas attacking sharks.

I think you filled in the blanks with a 'new discovery', when your brain could have simply assumed that the title would be "A discovery of a new animal that scares even the Great White Shark!" if there was a new discovery.

I think it is click-bait in the literal sense, but not in the negative connotation that click-bait is used today.

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#49
Orcas are one of the most amazing animals in my opinion. They are extremely intelligent and family oriented. There are some great video captures of Orcas attacking great white sharks by flipping the shark upside down which puts the shark into paralysis and then they simply kill the shark without any resistance. The whole encounter doesn't last more than a few seconds this is how precise and smart these animals are.

Many people are probably familiar with some documentaries where we can see Orcas hunt in groups to create artificial waves in order to wipe seals off the ice plates in the Arctic.

I personally was lucky to see Orcas patrol the coastline in Argentina where Orcas come extremely close to the shore and beach themselves in order to catch one of the many sea lions which relax there in false sense of security. Once they get the sea lion they wait for the next wave to help them back into the water. It's just amazing and one of the best spots on earth to witness something truly remarkable. The spot is very popular for whales to come and mate/give birth too so it's well worth to go there for a short break!

If anyone ever visits Argentina make sure to stop by "Valdes Peninsula" and get a car rental for 1 or 2 days so you can explore the peninsula yourself and with a bit of luck spot some Orcas!

Re: The Predator That Makes Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

#50
post #4

Clickbait title. Actual title should be: [Orcas] Can Make Great White Sharks Flee in Fear

Orcas Sometimes Avoid Great White Sharks.

is this a joke? the article and nature says the opposite. it is great whites who avoid orcas.
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