A tourist on a whale-watching trip in Monterey Bay, California, USA, witnessed an unforgettable scene when a Steller sea lion tore the throat out of a blue shark. Lori Hespe was on a tour in the bay when she saw the impressive sight of the marine mammal breaking through the water with a blue shark caught in its jaws.
The sea lion used its immense strength to toss the shark out of the water and almost instantly tear its throat. "I have never seen anything like this before in my life.
I was completely shocked and amazed," expressed Lori in astonishment. The attack lasted about three minutes before it brutally ended.
Sea lions are known to be opportunistic hunters, targeting easy meals like squids, herrings, and even small sharks. An adult male Steller sea lion can grow up to 3.3 meters long and weigh up to 1134 kilograms, giving it a significant strength advantage over most adult blue sharks, which typically measure around 2.1 meters and weigh nearly 206 kilograms.
In the video shared on October 22, the predator was filmed swimming towards a group of small fur seals. Seals risk their lives every time they go out to eat in the ocean, but they have developed behavioral patterns to protect themselves against one of the biggest great white sharks.
This experience has already fascinated over 5 million viewers on social media and offers a rare glimpse into the harsh realities of the ocean.
