Great white shark almost managed to swallow a sea lion. Emphasis on the "almost". One would think Sharky would know the limits of his gape by now. 83
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A great white shark that washed up on an Australian beach this week had a sea lion stuck in its throat which likely caused its death, fisheries officials said Thursday.
The four-metre (13-foot) white pointer was filmed thrashing around just off Coronation Beach, 430 kilometres (270 miles) north of Perth, and was later found on the sand.
The Western Australia Department of Fisheries said it had no visible signs of injury or disease, but had a large sea lion lodged in its throat.
"This could explain why the shark was exhibiting such unusual behaviour in shallow waters off Coronation Beach," said research scientist Rory McAuley in a statement.
"It is possible that the shark was trying to dislodge the blockage.
"Such a large object may have damaged the shark's internal organs or impeded water flow into his gills, contributing to his death," he added.
"Alternatively, the shark may have accidentally become stranded in his attempts to get rid of the obstruction."
Brad Tapper filmed the shark as it struggled in shallow waters and posted the clip on YouTube.
Tapper, who had been at the beach with his children, said a dog walker first noticed the shark when his pet refused to go in the water.
"When we spotted it, it was about 50 metres off the shore. We thought it was a diver or something," he told the West Australian newspaper.
"It was kind of surreal, you're watching it and you don't realise how rare it is at the time until you get home and have a look at the footage."
After it beached itself, some onlookers attempted to drag the shark out to sea using a tow rope, but the animal returned to shore soon after.
"We went to look at it and got within three or four metres of it but it started kicking and thrashing around again so we thought it was time to leave," Tapper said.
Posted by sharky on July 17, 2014, 5:30 pm, in reply to "Sharky, noooo!"
Aw that poor shark, see what you get from trying to get a simple meal. It's so so so unfair
--Previous Message-- : Great white shark almost managed to swallow a : sea lion. Emphasis on the : "almost". One would think Sharky : would know the limits of his gape by now. : 83 : : ***** : : A great white shark that washed up on an : Australian beach this week had a sea lion : stuck in its throat which likely caused its : death, fisheries officials said Thursday. : : The four-metre (13-foot) white pointer was : filmed thrashing around just off Coronation : Beach, 430 kilometres (270 miles) north of : Perth, and was later found on the sand. : : The Western Australia Department of : Fisheries said it had no visible signs of : injury or disease, but had a large sea lion : lodged in its throat. : : "This could explain why the shark was : exhibiting such unusual behaviour in shallow : waters off Coronation Beach," said : research scientist Rory McAuley in a : statement. : : "It is possible that the shark was : trying to dislodge the blockage. : : "Such a large object may have damaged : the shark's internal organs or impeded water : flow into his gills, contributing to his : death," he added. : : "Alternatively, the shark may have : accidentally become stranded in his attempts : to get rid of the obstruction." : : Brad Tapper filmed the shark as it struggled : in shallow waters and posted the clip on : YouTube. : : Tapper, who had been at the beach with his : children, said a dog walker first noticed : the shark when his pet refused to go in the : water. : : "When we spotted it, it was about 50 : metres off the shore. We thought it was a : diver or something," he told the West : Australian newspaper. : : "It was kind of surreal, you're : watching it and you don't realise how rare : it is at the time until you get home and : have a look at the footage." : : After it beached itself, some onlookers : attempted to drag the shark out to sea using : a tow rope, but the animal returned to shore : soon after. : : "We went to look at it and got within : three or four metres of it but it started : kicking and thrashing around again so we : thought it was time to leave," Tapper : said. : : Yahoo - ABC News Network : : Great white shark choked by sea lion : : AFP 10 hours ago :
And here's a luckier shark.
Posted by Strega on July 17, 2014, 10:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Sharky, noooo!"
This little shark was one gulp away from being a bulge in an eel when it finally fought free, or the eel decided it was a little too big to swallow.
on July 17, 2014, 5:30 pm, in reply to "