See A Massive 16-foot Great White Shark Just off The California Coast Checking Out A Whale Carcass

Written by Hannah Crawford
Updated: October 18, 2023
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Viewer description advised: This video contains the contents of a dead whale washed up on shore. Blood and guts are visible. It may not be suitable for young or sensitive viewers.

It is easy to get caught up with the beauty and majesticness of the enormous humpback whale. When we think of this animal, it is easy to think that something this large and powerful would live forever. These animals can live very long and healthy lives of 45-50 years, which for an animal in the wild is a very long time. However, like all animals, there is a time when their lives must come to an end. As sad as that is, it is a very real part of life. 

This next YouTube video posted below takes us to California. A local photographer used his skills as a photographer, videographer, and video editor to create this small documentary on a great white shark that was checking out this large humpback whale carcass. Let’s take a look at what he had to say about his experience documenting this personally. 

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“In this week’s episode, I document a handful of great white sharks near a dead whale carcass that washed up on shore. One white shark, I estimated at least 16 feet long. The largest I’ve filmed close to shore in California. Stay to the end of the video to see the largest gathering of leopard sharks I’ve yet to witness.” 

What Happens Next?

This video quickly moves to us seeing the large humpback whale that had succumbed to some type of injury or illness. It washed up on shore and was there for the pickings of any animal that could smell it out nearby. One such predator is the great white shark. If we pause the video at one minute 41 seconds, it is easy to pick this giant shark out. The YouTube poster estimated this shark was between 16-18 feet long. It’s easy to pick this enormous beast out of the water.

How Large Do Great White Sharks Get?

A shot of the beautiful wild great white shark underwater

The great white shark is the largest predatory fish on earth.

©Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com

As we can see from this video, this shark was simply massive. Imagine something 18 feet long just coming at you. Well, this wouldn’t even be the largest great white shark ever recorded. Great white sharks can range anywhere from 18-26 feet in length. Quite an enormous difference! They can also weigh anywhere from 2,450 to 4,938 pounds. This is perhaps why they have earned their prestigious title of “great” white sharks.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/vladoskan


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About the Author

Hannah Crawford is a writer at A-Z Animals where she focuses on reptiles, mammals, and locations in Africa. Hannah has been researching and writing about animals and various countries for over eight years. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Communication\Performance Studies from Pensacola Christian College, which she earned in 2015. Hannah is a resident in Florida, and enjoys theatre, poetry, and growing her fish tank.

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