The state has so much money that Democrats argue lawmakers also could use the August special session to raise teacher pay. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, responded to the latest revenue report by calling lawmakers back to Little Rock to pass new tax cuts.

That’s about half what the state spends in a typical year. Take Arkansas, which, thanks to record-breaking tax collections last year and this year, has almost $3 billion in budget reserves. Tax collections are still coming in strong, and states have saved so much money - thanks to economic growth and a flood of federal COVID-19 aid - that there’ll be plenty to spend on schools, Medicaid and other services this fiscal year. Voters are souring on the economy, and some analysts are warning of a looming recession.īut most state budget analysts aren’t too worried. They simply cannot afford the added pressure from Orca, a killer whale hunt, right now.Grocery, gas and housing prices are up this year. “We know that great white sharks face the highest targeted mortality in the anti-shark swim protection nets in KwaZulu Natal. “Increased vigilance using citizen science, such as fishermen’s reports and tourist vessels, as well as continued tracking studies will help gather more information on how these predators may affect the long-term ecological balance in these complex coastal seascapes.” Towner said: “The orcas are targeting subadult great white sharks, which due to their slow growth and late life history maturation strategy may have further impacts on an already vulnerable shark population. While these may have partial impacts, they are likely not the only factor that contributed to such a sudden, localized population decline from 2017. Other explanations for the region’s decline in great white sharks include shark capture, a reduction in prey due to fishing, or an increase in sea surface temperature. The distribution of killer whales may indicate that a decline in prey populations, including fish and sharks, is causing changes in their distribution pattern. Gansbaai was once a world famous spot to see the legendary Great White, with tourists around the world visiting and participating in cage diving. “These dynamics can also determine the interactions between competitors or the predator-prey relationship within the guild.” “The research is particularly important because by determining how large marine predators respond to risk, we can understand the dynamics of coexistence with other predator communities,” Towner said. Many of the shark carcasses washed up without the livers, hearts, or other injuries characteristic of the orca pair. Towner was also involved with a researcher last month examining the large white carcasses from 2017 off the coast of Gansbaai. However, they have fallen victim to orcas themselves – and are on the retreat.

They were drawn to the region by what is known as Seal Island, a rock that is home to a huge colony of seals. Great Whites visited the area between June and October each year as part of their annual winter hunting season. Scientists speculate that this behavior may be behind the disappearance of great white sharks from the waters of False Bay off the coast of Cape Town.

Scientists have found evidence that they slash open the sharks and eat their fatty liver. Orcas are the great white’s only natural predators.

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