Science

‘Spectacular Display’: NZ Residents Capture 2 Hour Battle Between Killer Whale & Sharks

Which of these two most-feared marine predators — killer whale or shark — would have your vote in a battle?

New Zealanders got to see such a fight fight take place first hand in what the local TV3 station called “a rare and spectacular display of animal prowess.” The station reported that residents began to gather on Tuatapere Beach to watch a group of sharks being hunted by orcas.

New Zealanders Capture Show of Killer Whale Versus Shark

The scene got even more interesting when one of the sharks beached itself, only to be taunted by an onlooker’s dog named Flea.

New Zealanders Capture Show of Killer Whale Versus Shark

 

New Zealanders Capture Show of Killer Whale Versus Shark

Check out the footage taken by a local resident in this Associated Press report:

Although the report doesn’t reveal who won or lost the battle or if it was a draw, there have been several accounts over the years of whales and sharks getting into rifts. In 2009, The Telegraph reported that orcas were known to eat at least nine species of sharks, including great whites and mako. At the time, the Telegraph reported scientists describing the whale’s techniques to catch a shark without getting injured itself:

“The most impressive strategy is the ‘karate chop’,” said expert Dr Ingrid Visser, 43, who has studied orca behaviour for 17 years.

“The orca will use its tail to drive the shark to the surface. They don’t even touch it. Using an up-thrust of its tail it creates a vortex which pushes the shark up on they current they create with their movements.

“Once the shark is at the surface, the killer whale pivots and lifts its tail out of the water and comes down on top of it like a karate chop.”

Another technique is corralling, where many whales isolate a shark and ram it or attack its underbelly, according to The Telegraph. The scientists said that the whales will almost always get the shark upside down so it is vulnerable.

Here National Geographic has more from scientists on how the whales hunt sharks:

Comments (76)

1 2
  • AmericanStrega
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 5:59pm

    If the sharks just had freaking lasers attached to their heads none of this would have happened!

    Report Post »  
    • onebigassmistakeamerica
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:22pm

      This video perfectly demonstrates WHY I support the application of the 2nd amendment to all species.

      Report Post »  
    • SERUM
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:25pm

      Lol…too dang funny!

      Report Post »  
    • Bakko Bomma
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:25pm

      They weren’t whales that was Limbaugh and Gingrich out for a swim.

      Report Post » Bakko Bomma  
    • 1776freedomofspeech
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 4:34am

      Maybe Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid can establish a ocean oversight committee and the pres can commission a czar to look into this and possibly create more jobs by more dentists who specialize in marine biology and we can level the playing field for all aquatic life by removing those pesky and annoying killer teeth.Thus disarming them and renaming them “Gummy” whales.

      But I think Killer whales have the God given right to keep and bare teeth!

      Report Post » 1776freedomofspeech  
    • shogun459
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:08am

      In reply to Bakko Bomma,
      I see you used a self portait for your avatar pic!
      Your comment is now explained.

      Report Post » shogun459  
  • mattmo79
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 5:18pm

    Sharks can’t compare to Killer Whales!! They kick A$$!

    Report Post » mattmo79  
    • Lenzman58
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 3:55am

      and if worms carried guns, birds wouldn’t eat them.

      Report Post » Lenzman58  
  • drago
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 5:11pm

    Wonder if the “sharks” in DC took note of this?……….

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 5:34pm

      Historically speaking, I know what’s in store for them.

      Report Post »  
  • Miami
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 4:59pm

    Chock one up for the Killer whale,,,

    Anyone one up for some shark sushi…? The dog sure was

    Report Post » Miami  
  • yanki161
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 4:55pm

    Speaking about the intelligence of undersea creatures reminds me of this.
    http://youtu.be/wuVgXJ55G6Y
    These dolphins are teaching each other to blow circles and, best of all, is the way they manipulate and play with the circle.

    Report Post » yanki161  
  • avgconservative
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 3:34pm

    Couple of great videos… really enjoyed the NatGeo one… as usual. See how great they can be when they don’t put the climate change or George Bush as the demon in the room?

    http://FlipTheLib.com

    Report Post » avgconservative  
  • mikee1
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 3:34pm

    Big, healthy dolphins kill sharks in a similar way, but probably not to eat, but for protection. Dolphins can swim much faster than sharks, despite what JAWS said. They can swim alongside ships in fact. They simply ram the sharks at high speeds, usually multiple times by many dolphins. It is probably like getting hit my a non-explosive torpedo. Dolphins have also killed humans accidentally or non-accidentally this way.

    Report Post » mikee1  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 3:24pm

    Seems to be a rare event even for these Kiwis surrounded by water to see by the sea.

    Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • randy
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:59pm

    Wish there was a progressive liberal out in the water with his underwater cam filming this :(

    Report Post » randy  
  • Sara72
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:46pm

    It was Bush’s fault!

    Report Post » Sara72  
  • 1me2ao
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:41pm

    that looked like a nurse shark.

    Report Post »  
    • abbygirl1994
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 3:10pm

      Wonder what happened to the Dr. Shark!

      Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • Lesterp
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 3:34pm

      Obviously having an affair with an Orca!

      Report Post » Lesterp  
    • single stack
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 5:41pm

      It’s probably a silky shark. New Zealand is within it’s range.
      The nurse shark’s range is limited to the tropical and subtropical coasts of the Americas and tropical and subtropical western Africa.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:40pm

      It’s not a Nurse Shark or a Silky Shark. I don’t know what kind it is. Here are 2 links for the Nurse and Silky. Look at the tail fins of both. Anyone know what kind of Shark this is? From the tail fin I‘d say it’s not an agressive Shark. I saw a Great White and an Orca fighting off the coast of California back in 1993. I’ll never swim or SCUBA in those waters!

      http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/silkyshark/silkyshark.html

      http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/nurseshark/nurseshark.htm

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:49pm

      It does look like a variant of the Nurse Shark. We have them here in Florida and they are very docile and non-aggressive. I’ve petted many while SCUBA diving; they like to lay on the bottom motionless.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • 1776freedomofspeech
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 4:46am

      @AbbeyGirl1994

      He divorced his Nurse Shark spouse who put him through Shark medical school and married a more beautiful and younger Shark intern who specializes in Trauma Centers ocean-wide.

      They now have two baby sharks and are living happily ever after in the white sand waters off Boca Raton, FL.

      Report Post » 1776freedomofspeech  
  • Fernyyy
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:34pm

    I’ve seen firsthand what a dolphin can do to a similar sized shark. It’s not even a real contest. The dolphin won easily and seemed eager for more.

    Report Post » Fernyyy  
  • sbenard
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:27pm

    Fascinating!

    Report Post » sbenard  
  • Cause4Liberty
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:21pm

    Free Willy +1, Sharks 0

    Report Post » Cause4Liberty  
  • Susie
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:21pm

    BLAZE Cannot view any videos labeled AD CHOICE
    SO CANNOT SEE THE VIDEO
    What’s the key to viewing ?

    Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:58pm

      Do you have the latest Adobe Flash player install? Both videos played fine for me. Here’s a link for the latest Flash Player. UNCHECK THE FREE SOFTWARE BOX FIRST! It might take a minute for you to see the check box so don’t rush!

      http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • UrbanCombatSurvivor
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 1:27am

      If you’re using NoScript to block malicious code and ads, you need to temporarily allows newsinc.com to see this particular video…

      Report Post »  
  • wewantchillywilly
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:17pm

    i saw a special on this. if a shark is turned upside down on its belly, a chemical is released (serotonin?) into it’s brain to basically stop it from moving- tonic immobility. it is completely immobilized no matter what happens. basically, if you ever get in a fight with a great white, turn him over belly side up. and wallah. you’ve won, easy as pie ;). a killer whale has evolved to learn that killing great white sharks is as easy as turning them over.

    and when a great white shark is killed, it releases a chemical in the water that other sharks can smell. when a shark (great white) smells a dead shark, it senses danger, and flees for miles and doesn’t go back for a very long time. it may be a shark repellent.

    Report Post »  
    • Temporal
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:21pm

      I saw that too, but the suggestion of what to do if you’re attacked by a great white reminds me of the Holiday Inn Express commercial ;-)

      Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:11pm

    I call shenanigans. Officer Barbrady!!!!!

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • dealer@678
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:09pm

    That was cool. Gotta love nature

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:05pm

    On “Flipper” … a dolphin took on sharks and won nearly every show. My money was on the Orca.

    Report Post »  
  • OBAMA IS A FOUL EVIL TRAITOR
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:05pm

    Attention!!!

    Google the following TRUE stories! SHOCKING!!!

    * OBAMA SIGNED LAW ALLOWING INDEFINITE DETENTION & TORTURE OF AMERICANS

    * MILITARY TO DESIGNATE U.S. CITIZENS AS ‘ENEMY’ DURING U.S. COLAPSE

    * HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVATED HUNDREDS OF FEMA CONCENTRATION CAMPS ACROSS THE U.S. IN DECEMBER 2011

    * CONGRESS FUNDS MASSIVE EXPANSION OF TSA CHECKPOINTS

    * FEMA BUYS 140 MILLION BODY BAGS

    * FEMA BUYS 1 BILLION DOLLARS OF SURVIVAL FOODS

    * LOCAL COPS GET MILITARY WEAPONS, TANKS, ETC

    Report Post » OBAMA IS A FOUL EVIL TRAITOR  
    • 1776freedomofspeech
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 6:41am

      Take a knee and have a smoke and a beer. It will help.

      Even Trolls like you who are out to discredit American Conservative Christians through ridiculous reverse psychology postings on the Blaze need a break once in a while.

      Report Post » 1776freedomofspeech  
  • cyclops
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:00pm

    “The hunter becomes the hunted.” I like that way of thinking……..LOL!!!!!!

    Report Post » cyclops  
  • ShyLow
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 1:52pm

    Taco vs grilled cheese sandwich http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPlWssdjG30

    Report Post » ShyLow  
    • 1776freedomofspeech
      Posted on December 30, 2011 at 6:50am

      Grilled cheese sandwiches will need to unite to protect their rights against evil tacos. They are establishing the National Association for the Advancement of Grill-Cheese People.

      This social injustice must be stopped, I blame Kraft, Pace and Ortega. They each need to take responsibility for what the tacos do.

      Report Post » 1776freedomofspeech  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 1:52pm

    See what happens when you Free Willy? Grows up in prison, all he knows is violence, you release him into the wild, and he finally snaps and goes on a killing spree. Where is the parole board now? Who is to blame for this? Who will call the poor families of the sharks? This is what happens when liberal policies start to interfere with the penal system and release violent predators back into society.

    I suggest we start a petition to put Willy back into the prison he came from, and to bring that little boy who freed him on trial.

    Arrest Willy now!!!!

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • JBaer
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 1:58pm

      LOL! Love it!! Thanks for the chuckle!

      Report Post » JBaer  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:00pm

      Ha ha ha!!!!!! Quick, somebody call the good Rev Sharpton! “Resist we much…”

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • cyclops
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:03pm

      You have the mind of a true analyst……….LOL!!!!!!

      Report Post » cyclops  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 1:49pm

    The shark should have called ‘time out’ because turning him upside down is not fair.

    Report Post »  
  • ThePostman
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 1:43pm

    A whale caught me with a karate chop once. I never went back to that bar ever again.

    Report Post »  
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