For the first time, scientists have captured video evidence of orcas cooperatively hunting whale sharks, the largest species of fish on Earth. This graphic footage proves that whale sharks are a regular part of some orcas’ diets, and solves the mystery of how they are able to kill the massive fish.

The method of hunting may imply that some orcas in the Gulf of California have acquired a special set of skills–like going after the ventral side of young whale sharks–that help them prey on these enormous fish. Orcas may have learned to do the same thing in other parts of the world, but evidence is limited, according to the team.

A male orca named Moctezuma participated in three out of the four documented attacks between 2018 and 2024 in the Gulf of Mexico: "It's impressive how they work in a strategic and intelligent way to access only a very specific area of the prey.

Orcas in the Gulf of California hunt whale sharks using advanced techniques. This highlights the need for conservation efforts.

Marine biologists documented the never-before-confirmed behavior among orcas living in the Southern Gulf of California.

An orca pod in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico has devised a cunning strategy to hunt and kill whale sharks — the world’s largest fish that can grow up to 18 meters (60 feet) in length — new research has revealed.

Known to travel in groups or pods, killer whales can sabotage their victims by encircling them en masse before they attack