About Chris Heuving Expertise I can answer questions on wild animals, i cant anwer quetions about advice, but i can about giving information on wild animals, nothing like veterinary questions, or questions about tamed wild animals.
Experience I dont have much, I have already volunteered, but was expired because my computer wouldn't work for two weeks. I have knowledge of wild animals.
Expert: Chris Heuving Date: 11/6/2004 Subject: Great White Sharks and Killer Whales
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Followup To
Question -
Dear Mr Heuving,
It has always intrigued me when two of the ocean's largest predators come into contact of each other. Given their global habitats, is there a likelihood of a great white meeting a killer whale. I have heard that near some coastal areas, they compete for seals and except for one filmed contact sequence in 2002, it is relatively rare.
Hypothetically, assuming both were in contact with each other, and were of similar size, age, and were alone, would they attack each other? Who would win?
The second question I would like to ask is why the great white shark is so feared when the bull (Zambezi) shark causes more injuries or deaths to humans in shallow water?
Regards,
Anil
Answer -
Hey Anil,
This is a good question. I will answer your first one now. They wouldnt attack eachother, they would simply just cross paths. But if for some odd reason they would fight, i would have to go with the Great White Shark, becuse they are known to go after anything if they are hungry. While the Killer Whale will find something on their diet. Also the Great White is more vicous, and could easily beat a alone killer whale the same size. But if the Killer Whale was in the regular pod, the Shrak would swim away almost instanly.
The Great White is feared more because they have a bigger range, meaning they will go for anybody in their path. When you say that the Bull Shark causes more injuries, i would have to go against you their, in my opion. Only because the Great White is more worldly know to kill, becuase it is natural for them to attack, but with a Bull shark, they will have the doubts first.
Thanks for the Question, and I Hoped this helped.
Hi again,
I have to disagree with you on the answer to my first question. You are right that the great white is more aggressive, but the superior intelligence of the killer whale (dolphin family) coupled with its advantages in length and weight, would be too much for a great white to tangle with. The killer whale would probably ram the shark's gills, causing it to suffocate! Even a large great white of 21 feet weighing 5000lbs against a fully grown male killer whale (21-30 feet) weighing about 8-12000lbs, wouldn't stand a chance.
I have another intriguing question for you. The megalodon, which is assumed extinct, was about 50 feet long based on jaw measurements. But since us humans and our underwater gear and cameras can only go to depths of about 200 feet approximately, with poor illumination, who is to say that there aren't larger predators we haven't been seen before? Perhaps the megalodon is a deep fish predator? Or perhaps another whale larger than the blue whale exists? My question to you is, what scientific proof do we have that the Megalodon does not exist below that maximum dive depth?
Best Regards,
Anil Kapila.
Answer Hey Anil,
With your regerets from the first question, I want to remind you that what we are sharing is just an opinion. With that said I want to answer your next question.
We know that the Megalodon doesnt exist anymore because unfourtanlly we have found fossils were oceans once were, the fossils were found high on mountains, and in the middle of no where. Also Scientist use more then heavy, expensive equipment, they use Common Sense, meaning that if they know that the Megalodon eats fish, and if the fish population isnt going down below averge, then they know that other sharks eat fish, and they know how much fish to expect. Another reason is that they havent found any dead Megalodon remains for decades, surley some Megalodons had to die in a ten year peiord. In conclusion they know because they cant find dead remains, left anywhere, and they find fossils of them in places were there is no more water, for miles.
Thanks for your Questions, i appreciate your opion, Chris
