Striking images arrived from California and are now circulating worldwide. A video captured by a drone shows up to six great white sharks devouring the remains of a dead whale off the coast of Half Moon Bay. The sighting set off all alarms among local authorities, who urged swimmers and surfers not to enter the water near dead animals.
On Thursday, June 25, drone operator Sam Rigling filmed the scene at Martin’s Beach and later posted it on his social media. “I spent most of the day filming multiple great white sharks tearing apart this whale carcass. I must have seen between six and eight different ones throughout the day. A handful of juveniles and two or three large ones. This was one of my clips from today,” he wrote on Instagram.
In an interview with local media, Rigling admitted he had never seen great white sharks in that area with his drone before. “This was the first time I saw a great white shark with my drone. I had no idea there were so many around here,” he said. According to his account, some of the specimens measured over 4.2 meters in length.
Experts have been warning that a marine heatwave is bringing these predators to the California coast earlier than usual and in greater numbers. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, stated that this summer there will be plenty of sharks in the area.
Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are common along the entire California coast and are considered the top marine predators in the ecosystem. According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), they are responsible for the vast majority of incidents between sharks and humans. Although attacks are rare — fewer than 250 incidents have been recorded in California since 1950 — the scent of a dead whale can attract them from miles away.
That is why authorities insist: do not swim or surf near dead animals. Additionally, the California Fish and Game Commission has just taken emergency measures to ban certain fishing gear from beaches and nearshore areas, which are used to hook large sharks and could pose risks to swimmers.
The CDFW also clarifies that, contrary to popular belief, most incidents occur around midday, when people are in the water. And while most episodes happen at the surface, cases involving divers underwater have also been recorded.
Scientists agree that most of these encounters are not predation attempts but exploratory bites: sharks investigate unusual objects in their environment, such as kayaks, or may mistake people for seals or sea lions. But still, better not to tempt fate.
Para mí estos tiburones son los verdaderos dueños del mar, no como los zurdos que lloran por una ballena muerta. Es la naturaleza, gil. Si no querés que te muerdan, no te metas al agua. El que avisa no traiciona. Firmado: Depredador Silencioso.
che pero para mi estos tiburones tienen mas derecho a comer que los yanquis explotadores la ballena muerta es un banquete natural y los bañistas son los invasores dejen de llorar por un par de depredadores total ellos cuidan el ecosistema mejor que cualquier humano firmado pocho el revolucionario