The discovery was made on February 24th, when the lifeless body of the humpback whale was spotted floating in the ocean. The carcass attracted a swarm of ravenous predators, primarily great white sharks and tiger sharks, turning the area into a feeding frenzy.

The biologists attached a satellite tracking buoy to the carcass, intending to monitor its drift and potentially conduct a necropsy after towing it to shore. It was determined that the deceased whale was a one-year-old that had been seen throughout the winter in a weakened state. A few days before its death, the whale had been observed swimming through the water.

 

However, by the time the scientists reached the carcass, it had been significantly ravaged by the sharks, making it impossible to ascertain the cause of death. Oil and blood were observed streaming from the body, and over ten sharks, including a 12ft-long great white shark, were seen feeding on the remains.

Over the course of just a few days, the sharks managed to reduce the once-mighty humpback whale to mere scraps. The graphic video was produced in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sea to Shore Alliance, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As nature’s cycle of life and death continues in the unforgiving depths of the ocean, this footage serves as a stark reminder of the raw power and primal instincts of these apex predators.