Over the past couple of months, three dead great white sharks have washed up off the coastline of South Africa. The carcasses were subject to much local speculation, as their livers had been precisely removed and in two cases the heart had been too.
Marine conservationists investigating the bizarre phenomenon believe that killer whales have been responsible for the attacks.
Now a fourth great white has been found liverless in the area where the dead man-eaters had previously been discovered.
Credit: Facebook/Marine Dynamics
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The autopsy of the shark was carried out by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust team, led by White Shark biologist Alison Towner.
In a recent Facebook post, shark cage diving company Marine Dynamics described how the carcass was found on 24 June. The 4.1-meter-long (13.5 feet) shark was missing not only its liver, but its stomach and testes too - and had bled out profusely before dying.
"Another white shark autopsy has been completed by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust team today," the Facebook post reads. "It was led by White Shark biologist, Alison Towner.
Credit: Facebook/Marine Dynamics
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"The deceased male shark measured 4.1m in total length. He was missing his liver, his testes and stomach. The carcass may be a few days old but it seems relatively fresh and bled out massively. All necessary samples have been taken for the various scientific projects.
"'This is the fourth documented deceased white shark since May that we can connect to Orca predation,' said Towner.
"The pair of Orcas believed to be responsible were sighted offshore of Danger Point then again in Franskraal today. Marine Dynamics cage diving boat tracked the pair. Subsequently all cage diving boats failed to see white sharks today and it is believed the sharks may have fled the area once again."
Credit: Facebook/Marine Dynamics
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It's still up in the air as to why the orcas aren't eating the full shark. One theory currently being touted is that eating the most nutritious organs could be a way of maximising their intake from the meal - although perhaps shark livers are just particular tasty.
Orcas aren't the only one who've recently been bossing great whites - an Aussie recently got in on the act too:
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Nicholas Wilks and his dad, David, were pulling in their fishing net off Port Pirie, South Australia.
As they pulled in the net they saw the shark tearing fish from it. David managed to tip the shark out and continue pulling in the net, but as you can see in the video, the shark wasn't done.
Featured Image Credit: FacebookTopics: Sharks, Science, Great White Shark, south africa, Weird