Tiger shark attacks dolphin off Newcastle Beach
"If there are dolphins around there's no sharks nearby." Remember that little pearl of wisdom we used to tell ourselves for security while surfing? The theory went that the two creatures don't get along so steer clear of each other. Did it have a basis in science? Dunno, maybe they do try to keep clear of each other, but photos coming out of Newcastle this morning prove they don't always get along (Photo Peter Lorimer).
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Saw a pod thismorning on south coast, the young ones are good surfers
A lot of attacks on east coast last couple of years have dolphin activity before attack.
The only time Ive seen a large shark whilst surfing, it also coincided with a dolphin nearby.
Had a fish 4 metres long show up on the sounder whilst fishing this morning . That's as long as the fucking boat.
Those photos are unbelievable. So cool. The dolphin probably wouldn't think so though.
The Merewether boys secret surf spot is now not so secret.
It's cool. Don't think there'll be too many people rushing out there.
I've always had a chuckle when people pull out the 'sharks don't like dolphins' theory. I've seen em herd up a pod and rip them to pieces off the back of the boat.
I reckon it all goes back to that episode of Flipper where he saves the boy from the shark by hitting it in the gills with his snout
I've heard divers say that sharks trail dolphins to clean up the scraps they leave from their fish herding
Vic Hislop cut's one open in his video and a mattress size piece of liver falls out and the GWS has a whole dolphin inside it.
MR talks about the shark situation in Newcastle : ASL site.
My initial reaction to this was going to be to make a joke about an episode of 'flipper'. My second reaction was to make a joke about Rasta paddling out to save the dolphin. Then I thought about it. We often hear about sharks 'taking a bite just to see what it is', and humans are collatarel damage as a result of this. I know this example is just one instance of one species but wahat if the initial bite is just the attack method, then they wait for us to either weaken or die ( or escape) before continuing the attack?
Whoa Green Iguana, you can't just go around saying things like that. It might upset all efforts by the modern environmentalist movement to paint sharks out as cuddly , cute and ultimately benign friends of humanity.
All attacks are mistaken identity anyway - even the one at Cheynes the other day when the shark circled the two divers in crystal clear water before attacking.
Blowin are you surprised the shark attacked these divers?? I think probably not, but it does amaze me people continue to be surprised by shark attacks. Maybe the attacks really close to shore, like within 5m, but divers offshore?? It's not rocket science after all....
Not surprised at all Rabbits. Although an encounter is unlikely, as soon as you step off the dry land you're part of the food chain. Fuck diving off Cheynes.
I used to do a bit of hookah diving on the reefs offshore down Marg's , mostly off Hamelin and South to Augusta. No way I'd do it these days. Asking for trouble.
Agreed Blowin. Yeah I knew of three blokes that used free dive off that Cape to Cape stretch, often swim out up to 1km offshore etc. Madness!! Bit like these guys charging huge waves, if your times up.......
My first reaction was one of great sadness that the dolphin was suffering a slow death and slightly shocked when I realized I probably would have cared less if it had been pictures of a human being attacked.
Then I had to ask , where is all the blood? there is none , photoshop??
There is another photo after the shark has taken a chunk out of the dolphins tail. Blood billowing out. Poor fucker.
If this thing doesn't move on soon ...Surfest will have to be renamed
'The Burton Peter Benchley Pro'
Great pics. Sharks really are amazing predators.
So often you hear people making excuses for shark attacks on humans:
It was mistaken identity.
It was a curious test bite.
It must have been starving and week.
After an attack there are always the experts on tv and radio who lecture us on how we should not fear sharks.
Yeah right! Sharks are natures finest killers. Fear them! Just hope your not holding the winning ticket in the shark attack lottery.
I'd have thought these photos suggest a one off bite with no follow up (how many attacks do transpire) might well be a mistake/test bite. Clearly if it wants to eat you it'll hang around and have another go til you're dinner.
Best to have a flick through the pictures in the link.
Shows the dolphin with two large chunks out of it and the shark actively chasing it after the 1st nibble.
Shame there is no further pics after the 2nd bite whether the tiger shark went to town on the dolphin after it died
Exactly my point uncle Leroy. I read the article which said they feasted on it once it was dead. That's what they do, presumably, when they like the taste of their prey. Or when it is their prey. A mouthful of fibreglass in the first bite would suggest to the animal that this ain't worth eating. I'm guessing that's partly why you don't see photos (or hear too many stories) of this kind of thing happening to surfers. A first bite of a dolphin tastes better than a mouthful of foam and glass.
Sorry Benno, I read your comment to wrong way.
Yep, this shark is definately having another crack at the dolphin.
Does this happen to humans?
Quite possibly, has been a few cases where no body has been recovered, people on jet skis in between a body and a shark getting swiped at, shark stalking up and down the beach when a body has been pulled from the surf.
It could be that its a one bite thing, but also when you go to a buffet you take one plate away at a time and then go back for more, sharks could be doing the same thing or just may not be interested any more and swim off.
We will never know because we are not sharks, just happy humans playing in the ocean.
Anyone know if this GWS has been tagged or sat tracker attached would have to be a perfect candidate ?
Benski, I reckon the difference between us and all the other prey is that we have the ability to escape by leaving the ocean and returning to land. So all those 'one bite attacks' may not be one biters.
Mind you I do think a big fat, juicy seal would be far tastier than a bag of bones on a foam and fibreglass plate, but hey some of those big sharks have tyres and all sorts of stuff in their gut apparently.
There's plenty of recorded instances of sharks consuming the human once the prey stops moving.
Moreton Island attack is the one that immediately comes to mind. Shark towed the board and body up and down the beach for a half hour before gobbling the poor bloke.