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From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Orca versus White Shark
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:56:00 -0800
Many paddlers travel waters occupied by Orcas (Killer Whales) and some of us
paddle in waters shared by both Great White Sharks and Orcas. There has been
some speculation about the ultimate ocean predator and which would win in a
battle. Well, it turns out that there are quite a few first-hand stories
about Orcas and White Sharks and the whale always wins. In fact, there is
supposed to be a female Orca that lives near the Farallon Islands just off
the San Francisco area that specializes in killing Great Whites and eating
their livers.

This link is to a heavily commercialized video from NatGeo (including a
Geico commercial featuring that stupid gecko) but which, nevertheless,
documents an encounter between an Orca and a White off the same islands.
There is underwater video showing the Orca swimming around with the shark in
its mouth and video of the boat skipper claiming that the Orca actually
brought the dead shark over to his boat and held it up like a cat showing
off a mouse.

There is also another story of a shark killing a baby Orca and then, some
time later, an Orca spending hours toying with, allegedly, the same shark as
revenge for the killing. The story claims that the whale tracked the shark
down.

Interesting stuff for kayakers in Orca country, I think. Try not to look
like a shark.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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