Meet ‘Port and Starboard’ — The Fearless Orcas That Hunt Great White Sharks

Orcas are one of nature’s magnificent creatures. However, they are also one of one of nature’s most vicious killers. Hence the nickname “killer whales”. Read this article to meet Port and Starboard — The fearless orcas that hunt great white sharks.

Who Are Port and Starboard?

Port and Starboard are two wild Orcas otherwise known as “killer whales”. The lethal duo managed to kill 17 sharks in a span of 1 day in Mossel Bay, South Africa. While this killing is a shock to biologists, their hunting skills are extraordinary enough to stir up marine biologist’s curiosity.

They are easily recognized by their condition known as “floppy fin,” where the dorsal fin hangs over to one side. Starboard’s dorsal fin hangs over to the right while Port’s hovers over to the left.

In addition, the event occurred on June 18th, 2023.

Port and Starboard — Fearless Orcas That Hunt Great White Shark’s Predation Timeline

12:45 A.M.

Port is seen at the Tergniet, Rebook area near Grootback. A few moments later, the orca headed to Klein Brak. 

1 P.M. 

Blows are observed at Diaz Beach. Additionally, the whales headed toward Seal Island.

 2:20 P.M.

Furthermore, signs such as oil and racket were heard north of Seal Bay, indicating a hunt was underway. However, biologists did not have a clue as to what the lethal duo was after. 

2:40 P.M.

The orcas move closer to Diaz Beach. While Starboard anchored himself at Diaz Beach, Port swam towards the harbor before he veered into the bay. Furthermore, the two whales returned to Seal Bay. 

3:02 P.M.

Starboard was recorded via camera with a great white shark hanging from its mouth. Additionally, Port was last spotted on another island, potentially preying on another great white shark.

Port and Starboard were last seen swimming towards Hartenbos in the Summer of 2023.

Port and Starboard’s Hunting History

Their infamous shark-preying history began back in 2015 when seven broadnose seven gilled sharks came up dead. Moreover, great white sharks began to come up on shore with just their livers consumed. Following in 2020, there were dozens of great white sharks that were dead on arrival in South Africa.

Port and Starboard are connected to these cases due to their infamous technique of eating only the liver and leaving the rest of the hunted carcass.

Why the Whales Are Only Eating the Liver

Many researchers are baffled by the excessive amounts of carcass left over by Starboard and Port. However, one theory suggests that these serial killers are tearing out the pectoral fins and taking the livers because they discovered how good the liver tastes and made a muscle memory in their brain of it.

Additionally, the liver of a shark is enormous and makes up as much as two-thirds of the shark’s body weight. With that being said, the liver is high in vitamins and nutrients that the whales need to consume.

Are Port and Starboard a Threat to Humans?

The answer, in short, is no. Killer whales are not a threat to humans who are out in the wild. However, they do pose a threat to humans when held in captivity because of their confined spaces and lack of interaction in the wild. Additionally, orcas do not like being in a tank the size of a bathtub or forced to perform tricks on request.

Also, Port and Starboard only have one prey on their mind, and it’s sharks!

4 Interesting Facts About Port and Starboard

Below, you will find 4 additional facts about the two infamous killers.

1. Age

Reportedly, Port and Starboard are said to be around 20 years old.

2. They Hunt in Pairs

Port and Starboard enjoy hunting as a team. Where you see one, the other is not far around the bend. Also, Starboard and Port are both male orcas.

3. They Were Named After Parts of a Ship

Port and Starboard’s name refer to the parts of a ship. The parts of an ocean vessel that refer to the right and left side of it are called the “starboard” and “port.”

4. They Are Frequently Seen in South Africa

The best time to meet Port and Starboard — the fearless killer whales that hunt great white sharks, is anywhere from 10:30 a.m. to 2 P.M. In addition, you can see them anywhere in South Africa, from Lüderitz to Cape Town. There have been at least 55 recorded sightings of the two.

Port and Starboard might be the fearless orcas that hunt great white sharks, but their dynamic approach is something that will have marine biologists wanting to meet them for years to come.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com