Shark Drags Camera Off Into The Ocean After Taking The Bait

Amazing footage has been filmed that shows a great white shark emerging from the murky depths to try to make off with a film crew's camera set-up.

OK, so it wasn't actually trying to steal the camera, it was going for a bait canister next to it that was releasing smells into the water that are obviously delicious to sharks.

It comes in for a few bites - if you don't jump out of your skin at the first one you're harder than me - before dragging the whole apparatus off for a little underwater jaunt.

The camera in question belongs to Marine Dynamics Shark Tours, a South African company that is trying to study the local marine ecosystem.

The company also runs shark cage tours around the area, but to preserve their livelihood, and - presumably - the livelihood of any nearby animals, they've started doing research to find out more about the sharks that are around.

They've been doing this by tagging and tracking sharks, as well as filming them underwater.

They stuck the kit - which they call the Baited Remote Underwater Video System - underneath the ocean where they know there are loads of great whites. They like to munch seals that live on nearby Geyser Island.

Apparently, they also like to munch on baited camera systems too.

Toby Rogers, the shark expert from Marine Dynamics said: "The system works by using a bait source, typically sardines, to attract fish to the camera.

"We then analyse the footage afterwards and count the number of species and individuals observed during the hour-long deployment.

"The bait canister that houses the sardines is what you can see in the frame of the video and this is what has piqued the shark's attention.

"Sharks have a very powerful sense of smell and are curious in their nature, and he is trying to investigate the smell that is diffusing from the bait canister.

"Since sharks don't have hands, they investigate with their mouth!"

Rogers continued: "This is new footage for us. We have seen some individuals cruise by the camera array, including other species of shark and ray.

"But this is the first time we have seen a great white shark take one of our cameras for a ride.

"Our primary goal as an organisation is to discover and protect.

"Data collected in our area alongside other core habitats will aid the conservation of this already threatened species of shark."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: camera, south africa, Great White, shark

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a freelance journalist and LADbible contributor. He graduated from University of London with a BA in Philosophy before studying for a Masters in Journalism at the University of Salford. He has previously written for the M.E.N Group as well as working for several top professional sports clubs. Contact him on [email protected]

@TPWagwim