Incredible Pictures Show Giant Great White Shark Leaping Out Of Water To Snatch Seal

An adventurous wildlife photographer has captured the terrifying moment a huge great white shark thundered out of the sea to snatch a seal in its jaws.

The stunning pictures, taken just off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, show the massive shark 'breaching', a technique used by great whites to stealthily catch their prey.

The sharks stalk their unsuspecting dinner before attacking from deep in the water, hurtling upwards towards the surface and torpedoing into the air.

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Irish photographer David Jenkins, 46, who took the shots, said he travels all over the world to capture 'flying' sharks.

He said: "A flying great white shark is really one of the most incredible sights to behold, an amazing show of power, speed and agility.

"When I first saw a shark breach I was hooked and knew I had to try and see this for myself."

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Meanwhile, in the seas just off Devon, tour guide Dr Tom Brereton managed to capture the moment a 15ft thresher shark leaped clean out the water and slapped its long tail against the surface.

The boat of tourists were lucky to witness the amazing scenes, as threshers are normally found basking in warmer waters.

Dr Tom Brereton/BNPS

The photos come as a great white shark was spotted by a research boat off the coast of Majorca, where thousands of Brits will be holidaying this summer.

It was the first time a great white has been seen in Spanish waters in 30 years.

The huge predators, which can grow up to around five metres long and weigh up to a ton, have become a vulnerable species because of overfishing and being accidentally caught in nets and discarded fishing gear.

They are also killed to make shark-fin soup, a delicacy in China.

John Richardson, conservation officer at the UK's Shark Trust, said: "At least 53 percent of sharks, rays and chimaeras native to the Mediterranean Sea are at risk of extinction and require urgent action to conserve their populations and habitats."

Well, it's clearly good news for the sharks to be spotted again in the Mediterranean, but maybe not such good news for nervous holidaymakers.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

Topics: south africa, News, Great White, Devon, Animals, shark

Mischa Pearlmen

Mischa is a freelance journalist usually based in either New York or London. He has written for Kerrang!, Record Collector, NME, the New York Observer and FLOOD magazine, among others. Contact him at [email protected]