Wildlife watchers in Western Australia were awe-struck to see the circle of life playing out right before their eyes when a tiger shark caught a turtle beside their boat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ningaloo Marine Interactions<\/a>\u00a0shared footage of the encounter (taken both by drone and from the boat) on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0with the title “an apex predator<\/a> at full strength.” In the caption, they described\u00a0the event as \u201cone of the most incredible moments we’ve documented\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cSeeing a predation in the wild is extremely rare,\u201d they say, \u201cand being able to capture two entirely different perspectives is even rarer.\u201d<\/p>\n Footage shows the moment a tiger shark attacks a sea turtle in Western Australia. Credit: Frazer McGregor, Ningaloo Marine Interactions<\/p>\n In the drone video, a\u00a0tiger shark<\/a>\u00a0repeatedly swims at full pelt towards a\u00a0turtle<\/a>. \u201cTiger sharks are turtles\u2019 main predators but are also a cautious predator who size up their prey and the risk of injury well before actually attacking,\u201d explains Frazer McGregor<\/a>, co-owner and master skipper of Ningaloo Marine Interactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Desperately trying to evade the shark\u2019s jaws, the turtle turns its back, using its tough shell to try to protect itself from the predator. \u201cTurtles are feisty guys and whilst they use their shell as a type of shield,\u201d explains McGregor, \u201c[In] the first instance they are constantly manoeuvring around the shark to bite its tail which is quite sensitive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sometimes this self-defence strategy works, he says: \u201cWe witness a lot of survival stories where the sharks simply give up.\u201d<\/p>\n The turtle attempts to use its tough shell to try to protect itself from the shark. Credit: Frazer McGregor, Ningaloo Marine Interactions<\/p>\n Sadly for the turtle, the shark reigned supreme this time. In the last shot \u2013 taken from the boat \u2013 the tiger breaks the surface and grasps the turtle in its jaws, pulling it under the water.<\/p>\n For Ningaloo Marine Encounters, this rare sight is a reminder that sharks are \u201cextraordinary, highly evolved apex predators\u201d that \u201cdeserve the same respect we give land predators.\u201d This doesn\u2019t mean demonising them or trying to position them as adorable, puppy-like creatures.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhile they aren’t \u2018cute\u2019 they are not monsters either,\u201d they say. \u201cThey are a brilliant species, who have been around for thousands of years. Who now, more than ever, need our help and our respect.\u201d<\/p>\n This footage, taken from the boat, shows the tiger shark grabbing the turtle with its jaws before pulling it under the water. Credit: Frazer McGregor, Ningaloo Marine Interactions<\/p>\n Image and video credit: Frazer McGregor, Ningaloo Marine Interactions<\/p>\n More wildlife stories from around the world<\/p>\n