(VIDEO) GREAT WHITE SHARK DIES AFTER CHOCKING ON A LARGE SEA LION AND WASHES ASHORE

GERALDTON, AUSTRALIA

A great white shark that washed up dead near Geraldton, in western Australia, on Monday apparently died because it had a sea lion stuck in its throat.

The 13-foot shark was found dead on Coronation Beach, 17 miles north of Geraldton, on Sunday, two days after it was filmed thrashing around in the shallows just a few feet from shore.

Department of Fisheries principal research scientist Dr. Rory McAuley said the shark had no visible signs of injury, but did appear to have a large Australian sea lion stuck in its throat.

“This could explain why the shark was exhibiting such unusual behavior in shallow waters off Coronation Beach,” McAuley said.

“It’s possible that the shark was trying to dislodge the blockage.”

Beachgoers who saw the shark’s strange behavior on Saturday noted that it had been tagged, and speculated whether that could be the cause of its distress.
A video of the strange display, posted on Saturday, has already amassed more than 18,000 views.



McAuley said the shark had been tagged off the South Australian coast in January.

But he said it most likely died because it bit off more than it could chew.

“Such a large object may have damaged the shark’s internal organs or impeded water flow into his gills, contributing to his death,” McAuley said.

“Alternatively, the shark may have accidentally become stranded in his attempts to get rid of the obstruction.”

The department has downloaded the information from the shark’s tracking device and taken tissue and vertebrae samples for research purposes.