Giant Shark That Tears Whales Apart Shocks Scientists (VIDEO)

Off the coast of New York, researchers studied a giant mako shark nicknamed Sharkzilla, which left marks of attacks on whales, seals, and tuna. Initial theories about radiation mutations were not confirmed: analyses revealed no contamination. It turned out that the shark is a large pregnant female whose activity is linked to providing for her offspring.

Off the coast of the American state of New York, researchers studied a giant mako shark nearly 3.7 meters long, unofficially nicknamed Sharkzilla. The predator left frightening traces of attacks on marine life: it bit off a piece more than 60 centimeters wide from a humpback whale, inflicted lacerations nearly 56 centimeters long on seals, and completely tore apart a large tuna weighing over 180 kilograms. A team of biologists led by shark expert Craig O'Connell began searching for the giant after the airing of a Shark Week episode titled Sharkzilla Takes New York. The researchers put forward a bold theory about the possible influence of radiation, recalling the flooding of about 15,000 barrels of nuclear waste in the Hudson submarine canyon in the late 1960s. However, laboratory analyses of tissue samples revealed no traces of radioactive contamination or mutations. The true reason for the phenomenal size and aggressive behavior turned out to be biological: Sharkzilla is a large pregnant female mako shark that hunts with doubled strength to provide food for her developing offspring. In the wild, mako sharks can grow up to four meters and weigh over half a ton. The species is endangered, and encounters with humans are rare.