The two male orcas known as Port and Starboard have become notorious figures in marine biology. Their presence off the coast of South Africa has caused an ecological upheaval that has captivated researchers worldwide. Since their first recorded activities in 2015, these killer whales have been directly linked to the sudden disappearance of great white sharks from historically reliable aggregation sites. Their systematic predation behavior introduced a new pressure to the ocean’s apex predators, initiating a cascade of changes at the top of the food web.
The Current Status of Port and Starboard
The short answer is that Port and Starboard are still alive, active, and continue to operate within the South African coastal ecosystem. Their movements are extensive, ranging over thousands of kilometers along the coast from Namibia down to the Eastern Cape. The most recent verified sighting placed the duo in the False Bay area in September 2025, near Kalk Bay harbor. Scientists monitor their presence through a photo-identification catalog, using high-resolution photographs of their unique dorsal fins. Their ongoing activity is also confirmed by the continued discovery of shark carcasses exhibiting the precise injuries signature of their hunting method.
Identifying the Pair
Port and Starboard are instantly recognizable by the unique, collapsed nature of their dorsal fins, a feature rare in wild orcas. Their names are derived from the direction the fins bend: Port’s fin flops distinctly to the left side, the nautical term for the left side of a vessel. Starboard’s fin, though less severely collapsed, bends toward the right side. The dorsal fin is composed of dense, fibrous connective tissue, not bone, and the collapse is believed to be related to genetics, physical trauma, or dehydration. These males are also identified as part of a distinct, local ecotype characterized by a preference for large prey and flatter teeth suited for tearing tough tissue.
The Specialized Hunting Technique
The pair’s notoriety stems from their specialized and systematic method for hunting large sharks, particularly the great white. Their technique involves a precise, coordinated attack that capitalizes on the shark’s physiology. Port and Starboard maneuver the shark to target the pectoral fins, allowing them to flip the shark onto its back. This strategic move induces tonic immobility, a temporary, catatonic state that renders the shark defenseless. Once immobilized, the orcas tear into the body cavity with precision, extracting only the liver.
The liver is the sole target because it is an enormous organ, often comprising up to one-third of the shark’s total body weight. It is exceptionally rich in lipids and squalene oil, providing a massive, high-energy source necessary for the orcas’ high metabolic needs. This specialized behavior demonstrates advanced intelligence. Evidence of this targeted predation is regularly found when shark carcasses wash ashore with a distinctive wound and the liver completely removed. The efficiency of this technique is high; Starboard has even been filmed successfully executing a solo attack on a great white, completing the process in less than two minutes.
Ecological Ripple Effects
The sustained predation by Port and Starboard has triggered a measurable change in the South African marine food web, known as a trophic cascade. Following the orcas’ arrival, great white sharks have virtually abandoned their traditional aggregation sites in False Bay and Gansbaai. This displacement has created a vacuum at the top of the food chain. The most immediate consequence has been a significant increase in the population of Cape fur seals, which were previously kept in check by the great whites. The booming seal numbers have, in turn, placed greater predation pressure on various fish species, potentially destabilizing those populations. Furthermore, the absence of great whites has allowed other mesopredatory shark species, such as the bronze whaler and broadnose sevengill shark, to move into the vacant territories. Port and Starboard have since expanded their diet to include these species as well, demonstrating their continued influence on the coastal ecosystem.