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Three dead great white sharks at Gansbaai

Great White Shark on Wetpixel

Image by Marine Dynamics

Marine Dynamics has reported on its blog that three great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) have been found dead over the past few days in the area around renown cage shark diving venue Gansbaai in South Africa’s Western Cape province. The sharks have all been autopsied and the first two have both been been found to be missing their livers, with the final one’s autopsy has not been completed yet.

The nature of the injuries and the absence of the squalene rich livers suggests that the sharks have been killed by orcas (Orcinus orca). It is also interesting to note that the shark diving boats are currently reporting a complete lack of sharks in the area.