This episode of Radiolab, part of a "Week of Sharks" series, explores the dynamics between great white sharks and seals at Seal Island off the coast of South Africa. It begins with a story about a marine biologist, Alison Koch, whose life was changed after seeing photographs of great white sharks breaching. The episode then delves into the high predation rates at Seal Island, where seals experience extreme stress due to constant shark attacks. Later, the narrative shifts to the discovery of sevengill and great white sharks found dead with surgically precise wounds and missing livers. The mystery is solved with drone footage revealing orcas as the culprits, preying on sharks for their nutrient-rich livers. The episode concludes by discussing how fear, triggered by orca attacks and a chemical signal called "Schreckstoff," causes great white sharks to abandon Seal Island, highlighting the complex predator-prey relationships in the ocean and the impact of human activities on shark populations.
