Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
  • Whale watching

New government marine wildlife code to help reduce dolphin disturbance

The launch today by UK Government of new guidance on how to act responsibly around...

UK government to extend ivory ban to stop the sale of orca teeth

Following the UK ban on the import, export and dealing of elephant ivory in 2022,...

Dead whale beauty products to be sold in Japanese vending machine stores

Antarctic minke whale alongside Japanese whaling ship. Photo © Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert Japanese whale hunting company,...

Arrests made following illegal whale meat smuggling from Japan to South Korea

Customs authorities in Busan, South Korea, have arrested six people for allegedly smuggling at least...

Are orcas responsible for great white shark deaths in South Africa?

Scientists in South Africa have been examining the bodies of three great white sharks that have washed up off the coast of Gansbaai on the western Cape.

The sharks, up to 5m long, had their oil-rich livers missing, with the most likely explanation that they were probably preyed on by orcas.

The two predators are often found sharing the same habitat where there is large available prey such as seals, and some populations of orcas are known to feed on other species of sharks. However, incidents involving orcas hunting great whites have only been recorded on a few occasions, most notably in California and Australia.

Like many sharks, Great Whites are endangered and according to researchers from the Dyer Island Conservation Trust who have carried out a photo-id study, the population in the area is thought to be no more than around 1,000 sharks. The organisation has seen increased orca sightings in the area in recent years.

About George Berry

George is a member of WDC's Communications team and website coordinator.