Life isn’t easy for the little sharks that swim in Australia’s New South Wales region. Three of them were caught by a local fisherman, who only managed to capture half the animals. The rest likely became food for a large shark, which appealed to cannibalism.
The prey were two hammerhead sharks and a copper shark, all found in the same way: only the head and the rest of the body were eaten.
Fishing vessel captain Jason Moyes said competition with giant sharks and cannibals is beginning to be a problem for the fishing activity.
Read more: Australia’s deadliest snake removed from toy box
He says he often sees tiger sharks—which can grow up to 20 feet in length—behind fishing boats, waiting for easy meals.
See also: Giant bear terrorizes villagers to steal food and is hunted by authorities
Studies cited by James indicate that warmer ocean waters favor greater activity by larger, more predatory sharks, which probably leads to a greater likelihood of cannibalism. If it turns out to be real, the future of tiny sharks (like the victims scattered in the images) may not be so promising, as ocean temperatures around the world are slowly rising due to climate change.
Don’t give up: Millions watched live how difficult it is to land planes during a storm
