Killer Whales Take Down Tiger Shark

A pod of killer whales have been filmed for the first time hunting and killing a tiger shark. The footage, which is believed to be a world-first, was captured off the coast of Costa Rica by underwater photographer Caroline Power and British marine biologist Nicholas Bach.Show more

It shows three killer whales working as a team to force the panicked shark to the surface, wearing it down and taking opportunistic bites at its fins. Eventually, a large bull moves in to deliver the death blow while flipping the shark onto its back in the process - which induces a state of paralysis known as “tonic immobility". The pod then takes turns at eating and stripping the seven-foot shark down to its bare bones before disappearing back into the ocean.

Ms Power, 26, who filmed the footage from a dive boat, said: "I have been lucky enough to witness some amazing things in and on the ocean, but this was unbelievable. I believe this is the first time orcas hunting tiger sharks has been documented - we were all fairly awestruck." The two photographers had previously seen the same pod dismember a hammerhead shark just a few days earlier.

The attack took place at Chatham Bay on Cocos Island, Costa Rica, on September 8.