Beachgoers in Provincetown, Mass., watched in awe Wednesday as a great white shark ambushed a seal just beyond the shore.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy shared the footage to Facebook, crediting Matt and Shannon Scully, explaining that the “predation” occurred at 1 p.m. off Race Point Beach.
The shark appears to have been spotted before it launched its surface attack, creating a giant foamy splash. In the footage a woman asks, “Did you guys see it?” just before the eruption, which inspires more commentary.
White sharks prey on gray seals during the summer and early fall off Cape Cod, and one person observed in the comments section that nobody was swimming at the time of Wednesday’s attack:
“People are getting smarter, as you notice, nobody in their right mind would swim in the waters on the outer Cape!”
Reads another comment: “That water drops off deep. You are neck deep in five steps. It’s ‘Jaws’ paradise.”
Scientists make the most of the white shark feeding season by tagging sharks, usually from July into early November, to learn more about their habits and movements.
–Image and video courtesy of Matt and Shannon Scully
