APTOS, Calif. (KGTV) - A great white shark washed ashore in Santa Cruz County Sunday, leading marine biologists to search for its cause of death.
The shark was spotted on Beer Can Beach in Aptos. It was almost nine feet long and weighed 500 pounds, according to KTVU. The shark had been feeding on sea lions and had sea lion fur in its jaws.
Boat captain and marine biologist Giancarlo Thomae was among the first to investigate. He often records sea life from his kayak and thought he might recognize the shark. Thomae photographed his friend near the carcass for perspective.
Thomae joined scientists from University of California, Santa Cruz in loading the shark carcass onto a truck. It was taken to Long Marine Lab where a necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
