Passengers on a cruise in western Australia witnessed a feeding event of a lifetime.
The two-week-long charter run by Eco Abrolhos started on May 17. On just the fourth day of the trip, the cruise-goers captured the above scene.
Numerous Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) were recorded feeding on the carcass of a humpback whale.
Up to 70 sharks can be seen circling the dead whale and the cruise’s boats in the crystal clear waters of Dirk Hartog Island in Shark Bay.
Shot using multiple cameras, including a GoPro and a drone, the video provides viewers with 360 degree view of this wildlife event.
The video was uploaded to Facebook on May 21.“Something to show and tell the Grandchildren,” notes its caption.
The clip has gone viral, and as of May 23, has garnered nearly 900,000 views.
Shark Bay, located 500 miles north of Perth, is the most westerly point in Australia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its sea-grass beds and its 11,000 strong dugong population.
Tiger sharks, which can grow over 16 feet and weigh over 1,400 pounds, are described by the Florida Museum of Natural History as “indiscriminate omnivores."
Although they are found throughout the world’s oceans, the Red List of Threatened Species, run by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), lists Tiger sharks as “near threatened.”
IUCN notes that Tiger sharks are caught by fisheries for their fins, skin, and liver oil, which are considered high quality.
