Researchers said a pod of killer whales in the Gulf of California may have acquired specialised hunting techniques to prey on whale sharks, the world's largest fish. Scientists said they have documented four separate predation events from 2018 to 2024, with one male orca, Moctezuma, involved in three of the attacks. The orcas in the study were said to use a coordinated strategy that targets the whale sharks' pelvic area, causing them to bleed out and allowing the orcas access to the lipid-rich liver. Whale sharks, which can grow up to 59ft (18 m) long, are vulnerable during their younger, smaller life stages when they feed at aggregation sites in the Gulf. During this period, they are more susceptible to predation, and scientists said they have now confirmed the orcas' ability to target them with impressive teamwork. Erick Higuera Rivas, a marine biologist at Conexiones Terramar said: 'We show how orcas displayed a collaborative hunting technique on whale sharks, characterised by focusing on attacking the pelvic area. 'By keeping the shark under control, the orcas can access vital organs like the liver.' In these hunting events, the orcas are believed to flip the whale sharks upside down, inducing a state of tonic immobility where the shark can no longer move or escape. The study added it gives the orcas an advantage in accessing the shark's most vulnerable areas, which are less protected by muscle and cartilage. While photos do not capture the orcas consuming the liver, researchers believe this organ is a primary target. The researchers furthered that the hunting strategy may reflect a learned behaviour specific to this pod in the Gulf of California, with potential implications for other orca populations that may not yet exhibit the same skill. The specialised knowledge could also make these orcas vulnerable if climate change impacts the availability of whale sharks in the region. Although documenting these attacks was challenging due to the unpredictable nature of the events and limited access to high-quality footage, researchers said findings show the intelligence and adaptability of orcas. Researchers stress the need for regulations to ensure that human activity, particularly from marine tourists, is conducted sustainably and does not disrupt these delicate environments. Higuera added: 'The strategic way orcas work together to target specific areas of their prey demonstrates just how extraordinary these predators are.'