A shark has been filmed choking to death on a sea lion in a dramatic scene in the shallows of West Australian beach.
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/07/17/13/35/great-white-shark-choking-sea-lion-thrashes-in-sha...
The four-metre great white was spotted thrashing wildly only a few metres from the shore of a Geraldton beach on Saturday, at times beaching itself as it struggled in the shallows.
The incredible spectacle stunned onlookers, who filmed and took photos as the large animal viciously whipped its tail close enough to splash those watching.
"He's not very happy, is he, this fella?" one man said as he filmed.
"(It) looked like it may have been sick or injured. It would head offshore about 50m then turn around and come in and do this on the beach," the man wrote on the video he uploaded online.
The tagged shark was later found washed ashore at Coronation Beach, about 28km north, and its death sparked an investigation by the Department of Fisheries, WA Today reports.
Principal research scientist Rory McAuley said the animal had no visible signs of injury or disease but appeared to have a large Australian sea lion stuck in its throat.
"This could explain why the shark was exhibiting such unusual behaviour in shallow waters off Coronation Beach. It is possible that the shark was trying to dislodge the blockage," Dr McAuley told WA Today.
"Such a large object may have damaged the shark's internal organs or impeded water flow into his gills, contributing to his death.
"Alternatively, the shark may have accidentally become stranded in his attempts to get rid of the obstruction."
Darn good sock
