In the ocean, great white sharks are among the top predators and are known for a string of recent shark attacks on people. However, a lucky photographer recently caught the moment a large great white shark attacked — or clashed — with another smaller great white.
Adam Malski, 33, was enjoying amazing weather and pristine waters off Neptune Islands in South Australia. The scenes were stunning and picturesque in every sense of the word. The two-day trip was shaping up to be great for diving. And then the magic happened.
Suddenly, out of the water bursts a nearly 9-foot long great white shark that grabbed the bait dangling off the side of the both he and his companions were in. And no sooner than it grabbed the morsel of food, another huge shark, about twice the size, burst out of the water. With its mouth agape, showing off rows of sharp and serrated teeth, it attacked the smaller shark, which totally amazed the boaters.
Adam described the incredible shark attack involving the two great whites.
“The day where the shark attacked the other was surreal. I asked the dive master and skipper of the boat what would happen if a smaller shark got in the way of a larger shark. The skipper responded, ‘the big shark would take the smaller one down’. Literally six seconds later, that amazing scene was witnessed by me, the skipper and the dive master. They had never seen anything like it before. I believe that it is extremely rare footage as great whites are elusive and still largely unknown creatures.”
The great white shark that attacked the other white shark is known in the area as “Gilbert.” Since the encounter, he’s been seen swimming in the local waters; but there has not been a trace of its lesser opponent.
This rare shark attack on another of its own species recalls grisly memories of a marine encounter between another pair of the apex predators back in 2009.
Then, an estimated 20-foot-long “monster” great spooked residents and tourists after a reported attack along the shorelines in Queensland beach, mainly around Stradbroke Island.
Witnesses say a hulking white shark viciously mauled another smaller one measuring half its length. And the most bizarre part of this shark attack is when the mortally-wounded shark was discovered — bitten nearly in half — it was still alive.
Recall the classic movie, Jaws , from the ’70s? Experts say the huge great white behind that attack five years ago in Queensland was only 5-feet shorter than the fictional behemoth on the big screen.
Marine biologists say these species are mainly nomadic and do not often cross paths. Even when they do, fights between them are rare, but cannibalism is not unheard of.
However, filming a great white shark attack on another great white shark is even rarer indeed.
[Image via: threedonia]