Great White Shark Found Washed Up on a Beach After Even Larger Sea Animal Kills It

A massive great white shark was found washed up on a beach with a part of its body missing — and likely eaten by another animal. Experts quickly revealed that an even larger sea animal killed this enormous creature.

At the end of May, a local resident in southeast South Africa stumbled upon a 15-foot great white shark washed up on a beach. This shark was discovered at the mouth of the Nyara River.

During this examination, veterinarians discovered parts of a common dolphin in its stomach. This dolphin was cut into four separate pieces quite neatly.

As the dolphin had been cut up into four neat pieces, the experts on the scene were able to piece the dolphin back together, which was easily done as the attack had happened so soon after the dolphin had been eaten.

Perhaps most interesting was the fact that this examination revealed that the shark’s liver was gone. No other part of the shark was missing.

When the shark was discovered, it was also noticed that its teeth were missing. It is believed that this was the work of trophy hunters.

After the shark was discovered on the beach, it was moved to a high water mark away from the sea to ensure it wouldn’t be washed away overnight.

According to experts, this great white shark was almost certainly killed by “killer whale predation.” They believe that an orca, also commonly called a killer whale, took down this massive shark.

One of the big clues that the great white shark was killed by orcas is that orcas are the only animals known for killing them.

There are a few reasons why scientists are so sure that an orca took down this shark in the ocean. First of all, tooth marks were discovered on the shark’s head, which matches other orca attacks.

In only the last few years, scientists began to realize that orcas were specifically going after sharks, simply to eat their livers.

This mystery first took off in 2017 after five great white sharks were found dead and without a liver. Experts began to investigate this mystery, eventually finding that orcas were responsible.

Once this footage revealed the truth, scientists were able to closely watch these orcas and how they acted. Starboard, one of the killer whales, was eventually filmed killing a huge great white shark in fewer than two minutes.

Aside from the drone and video footage, orcas have been visibly seen by tourists and locals killing the sharks.

It’s not just great white sharks that orcas have been going after, as 19 seven gill shark carcasses were washed ashore and their livers were missing.

Scientists are still trying to uncover why killer whales seem to only want to eat a shark’s liver, rather than other parts of the shark. For the most part, all of these sharks found only had their liver removed. The rest of their bodies were completely untouched.

As the orcas can easily get into the shoulder of the great white shark without breaking their teeth, this may be why they go for the liver, as this is enough for one full meal.

Scientists haven’t seen this type of killing by orcas regularly before. However, there are now signs that this has become a growing trend among killer whales.

Scientists have already stated that this trend may continue and become a new normal for great white sharks and orcas.

While livers seem to be the main reason orcas attack sharks, other sharks have been found with other body parts missing. These are also believed to have been from orca attacks.

Prior to the recent orca attacks on great white sharks, it was previously thought that orcas only ever hunted their prey in groups. However, these orcas have been hunting as individuals.

The shark was initially going to be donated as a museum exhibit. However, as trophy hunters had removed its teeth, it was unable to be donated.

With all of this going on, one thing that has been noted is that great white sharks and gill sharks are being forced out of the area in South Africa as they try to avoid being killed.

With a decline in sharks in the South Africa area, there is also a concern that this depletion will cause a rise in the number of mesopredators in the area.