Killer whales have developed never-seen before 'special knowledge' leaving scientists stunned

A pod of killer whales has developed "unique" skills to hunt the world’s biggest fish. A group of orcas have been spotted in the Gulf of California hunting whale sharks, which grow up to 18 metres long, in "coordinated" attacks.

Researchers believe the black and white apex predators, which normally feed on marine mammals, turtles, and smaller fish, might have gained "special" knowledge to allow them to hunt in a way never seen in their species before.

Whale sharks feed at sites in the Gulf of California, sometimes while they are still young and smaller. Scientists say that at that stage of life, they are more vulnerable to attack from predators.

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Now, researchers in Mexico have reported four separate incidents of killer whales hunting young whale sharks for the first time.

Marine biologist Erick Higuera Rivas was the senior author of the report published in the journal 'Frontiers in Marine Science'. He said: “We show how orcas displayed a collaboratively hunting technique on whale sharks, characterised by focusing on attacking the pelvic area causing the whale shark to bleed out and allow orcas access to the lipid-rich liver.

“One individual was engaged in three of the four events, alongside with other members who might belong to a pod specialised in hunting sharks.”

The attacks have been occurring since 2018 in the southern Gulf of California and were captured in images and videos taken by members of the public and scientists.

Individual orcas were identified by analysing photographs of dorsal fins and distinctive features, like scars. A male orca named Moctezuma was present at three out of the four hunts.

A female orca