Drone Footage Shows Great White Shark Moving 'At Least 20mph'
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Footage captured via drone shows a great white shark moving at unnerving speed - maybe you already thought they were fast, but this is a real eye-opener. Watch the shark leave the drone for dust in the clip below:
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The footage was filmed by photographer Matt Larmand at Capo Beach, California, and he says the shark was swimming at a speed of 20mph - minimum.
Larmand told For the Win: "He was going at least 20mph. I was going full throttle on the drone trying to catch up to him."
He added: "I'm not sure what triggered him to burst into speed like that; I've never seen one do that."
Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, told the news outlet that the shark was most likely spooked after spotting the drone's shadow.
He explained: "This response to the shadow of the drone supports one reason why they hang out in shallow waters.
"They don't know what is a threat and the safest behaviour is to flee when they experience something unknown.
"What's also interesting is that babies will exhibit this rapid flight in one direction, while older sharks will do a loop around when scared.
"This doubling back on a potential threat is a typical predator behaviour to prevent a rear attack."
Intense enough for you? OK, how about this - last month, a drone flying over a beach in Australia caught the terrifying moment a surfer was followed by a great white.
Matt Wilkinson was surfing off Sharpes Beach when the drone picked up the shark coming within inches of him.
Thanks to the drone, an emergency alarm was sounded which scared off the shark and Wilkinson was able to get to safety.
He said: "I heard a splash and a noise and looked around and couldn't see anything.
"I got to the shore feeling a bit weird and the lifeguards showed me the footage and I realised how close it came without knowing it was there. It looks like it's going for my leg and it's changed its mind."
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He added: "I feel grateful and pretty weird at the same time but happy it decided not to go me. When I saw the footage I saw the similarities, like I had a yellow leg rope on and Mick's board was yellow is what I was thinking about when I came in.
"I called my wife because I didn't want her to see the footage before I saw it. She doesn't want me surfing for a couple of days now."
Yeah, I can see why, mate.
Featured Image Credit: Matt Larmand
Topics: Interesting, US News, Weird, Animals, shark
