Watch a Fearless Seal Flip the Script and Stalk a Great White Shark

Written by Crystal
Updated: October 24, 2023
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Key Points:
  • Great white sharks are apex predators and spend much of their time hunting for their next meal.
  • Seals regularly chase sharks away to protect their colony.
  • Most great white shark videos show the moment when the shark catches its meal. But this video takes an entirely different approach.

We all know great white sharks eat seals. But did you know that seals sometimes chase the sharks away? In this video clip, you’ll see a fearless seal turn the tables on nature as they scare away a large apex predator. Follow along as we uncover the behavior of both species to understand them better. We’ll also examine what part of the ocean has the most seals and sharks.

Watch the Video Below!

Why Did the Fearless Seal Chase the Shark?

Seals chase away sharks to protect their colonies.

©David Dennis/Shutterstock.com

Is it normal for seals to chase sharks? One of the things that made the video clip so popular is that it seems unnatural and weird for the seal to be chasing the shark. But the truth is seals regularly chase sharks away to protect their colony. This is evident in another video that shows a massive elephant seal chasing away a great white shark.

Which Parts of the Ocean Have the Most Seals and Sharks?

A great white shark's dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water.

There are more than 500 different shark species.

©iStock.com/DigtialStorm

What part of the ocean has the most seals and sharks? Harbor seals are one of the most commonly seen species, with nearly 500,000 swimming around the northern hemisphere. Other well-known species include the ringed, bearded, Mediterranean monk, Northern elephant, and spotted seal. You can find seals in most coastal waterways, with large populations in the Arctic and Antarctic waters.

There are only 33 living seal species, but there are more than 500 shark species. There needs to be more research to determine what ocean has the most sharks. What we do know is that sharks live all over the place.

Certain shark species, such as the bull shark, can live in freshwater. Using osmoregulation, bull sharks can adjust the amount of water within their body. This advanced adaptation allows them to swim in freshwater waterways such as the Amazon and Mississippi rivers.

Sharks can also live in almost every ocean part, including the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern oceans. They can survive in nearly every type of ocean habitat. These predators thrive in the coral reefs, deep sea, and open ocean. You can even find them swimming beneath the Arctic ice.

Do Great White Sharks Have Predators?

Whale pod breaches

Killer whales are the only known animals to actively hunt great white sharks.

©Tory Kallman/Shutterstock.com

Great white sharks are apex predators. That means they generally don’t have any natural enemies to worry about. Except there is one apex predator that they do fear — the killer whale, who is considered the ultimate apex predator of the ocean. The killer whale, otherwise known as the orca, may be the only animal that preys on the great white shark.

The great white shark spends much of their time hunting for their next meal. They usually eat fish, but a great white will go after a seal or sea lion when they’re in the mood for something more decadent.

These hunters can smell a drop of blood in 100 liters of water. They also have a great sense of hearing, alerting them to injured prey over one mile away. As if that wasn’t enough, great white sharks have the advantage of fluid-filled sensory canals. The canals sit on either side of their body and let them detect the presence of objects in the water.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©


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About the Author

Crystal is a dedicated writer at A-Z Animals, focusing on topics related to mammals, insects, and travel. With over a decade of experience in the world of research and writing, she also fulfills the role of a skilled video and audio engineer. Residing in sunny Florida, alligators are Crystal's favorite animal.

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