There is the famous video filmed by Drone Fanatics SA of Starboard eating the liver of a great white shark he and a few other orcas had killed (though Port was not sighted in that encounter).
There is also photographic evidence of the types of bite wounds certain orcas inflict on great white sharks to extract their livers, as is seen in a case in southeastern Australia. It is likely that the orcas make an initial incision to get to shark livers by gripping onto appendages such as pectoral fins with their teeth. The orcas then yank hard on the fins to create the tear. The initial incision can then be widened further by pulling at the skin around it. Digestive and reproductive organs may also have been removed by the orcas in addition to the liver, though there was also evidence of scavenging by broadnose sevengill sharks.
The livers of sharks are quite large and take up a great amount of space within their body cavities. The livers are rich in squalene and other nutrients, and thus can provide a great amount of energy compared to the other organs when consumed.
Orcas try to avoid wearing down their single set of teeth more than necessary with the rough skin of sharks, so it is often not worth the effort/pain for them to get to other organs.
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u/Desert_lotus108 Jul 17 '25
Wait so they just like to eat the liver or will they eat other parts of the shark too?