"Discovery of Mysterious Shark-Bitten Orcas Reveals New Killer Whale Population"
A newly identified population of 49 killer whales off America's west coast has puzzled marine biologists with their mix of physical characteristics and fearless behavior, including attacking sperm whales, a northern elephant seal, and a turtle, while also carrying marks of frequent duels with sharks. The population, observed since 1997, exhibits traits associated with different orca populations, leading researchers to hypothesize that they may represent a distinct oceanic subpopulation or an undescribed oceanic population feeding on marine mammals and sea turtles in the open ocean beyond the continental shelf break.