14.3 C
Cape Town
Monday, June 22, 2026

WATCH: First of its kind drone footage shows Orcas hunting a Great White shark

Published on


Add Smile FM on Google

A man from Hartenbos made history when he filmed Orcas hunting a Great White shark.

The drone footage was taken in May this year by Christiaan Stopforth near the estuary at Hartenbos.

In the clip, three Orcas surround a Great White shark, with two whales framing the shark and the other biting the shark from below. The center killer whale brings the great white closer to the surface, biting the dead shark near the liver.

The stunning footage, the first of its kind in the world, was aired last Thursday on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week programme.

The TV special features marine wildlife expert Dickie Chivell, and explores the disappearance of great white sharks from the species’ once popular hunting grounds in the waters near South Africa.

A recent article in the African Journal of Marine Science found that aggressive killer whales in the area are likely responsible for the absence of great white sharks.

Stopforth told Netwerk24 that he is overwhelmed by the reaction to the footage.

“My goal that day was to find a school of orcas.”

According to him, he was lucky to find them.

“The group suddenly disappeared and the next moment there was a great white shark,” he says.

The one orca appeared above the water with the shark, belly up. Later, a third orca made its appearance near the shark’s tail.

Stopforth says he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the footage.

“It’s really remarkable.”

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

Latest articles

DA offers R50,000 reward for information following murder of activist

 The DA is offering a R50,000 reward that could lead to the arrest of the murderer of DA ward candidate and community activist, Sinovuyo...

DA ward candidate and activist gunned down in Du Noon

 The DA has condemned the murder of its Du Noon Ward 104 by-election candidate and community activist, Sinovuyo Dyokwe, who was gunned down on...

Police need assistance in Blouberg News Cafe shooting investigation

 The Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit has called on the public for assistance in identifying and locating individuals who detectives believe could help...
error: Content is protected !!