Up-close video shows great white sharks devouring dead whale

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Saturday, July 11, 2015
(Brett Vercoe/Jukin Media)
creativeContent-Brett Vercoe/Jukin Media

A group of recreational divers were off the coast of Coffs Harbour, in New South Whales, Australia when they spotted a school of sharks feeding on the carcass of a dead sperm whale.

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The divers estimated at least three great whites measuring up to nearly 15 feet in length and two tiger sharks around 14 feet, were feasting on whale. Brett Vercoe, who shot the video, wrote on YouTube that he watched the sharks leisurely consuming the abundant source of food for nearly three hours.

Officers from the Coffs Harbour Water Police arrived to monitor the situation, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, and witnessed the scene from just several feet away.

"I've been in this job for a long time and, while I've seen them feeding before, it's probably the closest that I've been to sharks that are actually feeding like that," said Sgt. Don Stewart.

During the night, remains of the carcass later washed up on Sapphire Beach, where wildlife service officers arrived to dispose of it the next morning.