Call it nature’s cull. Great whites, which have been in the news lately for predatory acts towards humans, are finding the tables turned in South Africa. A number of sharks have washed ashore, having suffered what authorities have called surgeon-like deaths.
Four in all have been found in the last two months, the last this past week. And all have been targeted for their nutrient-rich livers, the prey of orca whales off the South African coast. According to reports, three grey suits washed ashore last month near Gansbaai–one a hefty 15-footer–completely intact other than said organs. Scientists think the orcas are dining on the liver–Hanibal Lecter-style–for a compound called squalene, which is extremely high in nutrients (we take our squalene in olive oil).
South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs had the carcasses disected and confirmed the big(ger) fish were to blame. Orcas were spotted in May when the first three sharks were found and then again this week near an area known as Danger Point (fitting), after the fourth washed up.
Removing the liver without touching anything else, though? Scientist say they have footage off the California coast that shows the animals working as a team to pull off the nifty trick, pushing great whites to the surface, stomach towards the sky, gnawing into the soft flesh and allowing the scrumptious liver to float out of the body.
Kind of like this:
