Dead Humpback Whale Towed – Great White Shark Follows: A friendly reminder we are not alone just off of our favorite beaches.
CBS News 8 – San Diego, CA News Station – KFMB Channel 8
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) – A humpback whale carcass is being towed offshore by Newport Beach lifeguards. And there was an unexpected follower – a Great White shark.
The deceased 55-foot whale was first spotted by whale watching boats off Newport Beach pier around 3 p.m. Thursday. Using a rescue boat and rope, the Newport Beach lifeguards towed it about five miles out to sea to prevent it from attracting other fish.
The whale carcass also produces an unpleasant odor and is difficult to dispose of once it reaches shore. It was not immediately clear when the whale died, but it appears to have been decomposing for several weeks, according to lifeguards.
Professional shark tagger, Keith Poe, captured video on Saturday in the shipping lanes of the Orange, San Diego County lines.
Poe also said the female Great White shark seen eating the carcass is about 16 to 18 feet-long and weights about four to five thousands pounds.
On Monday, the whale carcass nearly washed ashore in Oceanside.
Encinitas lifeguards said the carcass is expected to make its way down the San Diego coastline. They are keeping an eye to make sure the carcass does not wash ashore.