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Story: Orcas

Mako shark under attack

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Mako shark under attack

This mako shark, one of the most feared creatures of the sea, became the target of two orcas in an underwater encounter that saw the shark come off second best.

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Orca Research Trust

by Ingrid Visser

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Orcas – Feeding and other habits, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4012/mako-shark-under-attack (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

Tauromaja
25 August 2012
I'm just surprised that a diver got into the water with the both of them! Sharks I'll swim with but I wouldn't be crazy enough to swim with an Orca.
Jordan Hunt
22 March 2012
Awesome shot of the mako shark!