Wild video shows sea lion violently munching on leopard shark near Alcatraz waters as swimmers raced around the San Francisco Bay
- Tori Gorman snapped the wild moment while out on the San Francisco Bay on Sunday morning
- Gorman had been in the area to monitor swimmers for a race.
- The sea lion can be seen in footage thrashing the shark around in the water
- At one point, the mammal flings the shark in the air and sends it splashing back in the water
- According to Marine Mammal Center staff veterinarian Dr. Cara Field, the sea lion was using a flinging technique that is known to stun prey
A California woman was shocked when she observed a hungry sea lion viciously attack a leopard shark near Alcatraz on Sunday morning.
Tori Gorman snapped the wild moment while out on the San Francisco Bay. Gorman had been in the area to monitor swimmers for a race.
‘We had just done a loop down to Pier 39 in the boat and were coming back when we saw splashing and slowed down to take a look,’ Gorman explained to SFGate. ‘When we realized what we were seeing, we were amazed.’
Tori Gorman snapped the wild moment while out on the San Francisco Bay on Sunday morning
Sea lions (left) are known for preying on smaller sharks, including leopard (right) and thresher sharks
The sea lion can be seen in footage thrashing the shark around in the water. At one point, the mammal flings the shark in the air and sends it splashing back in the water.
‘It was a National Geographic moment for sure,’ Gorman added.
According to Marine Mammal Center staff veterinarian Dr. Cara Field, sea lions are known for going after smaller shark species for meals. Leopard sharks and thresher sharks are often fed upon by the mammals.
The sea lion can be seen in footage thrashing the shark around in the water. At one point, the mammal flings the shark in the air and sends it splashing back in the water
According to Marine Mammal Center staff veterinarian Dr. Cara Field, the sea lion was using a flinging technique that is known to stun prey
‘The images shown are consistent with an adult male California sea lion preying on a leopard shark by utilizing a flinging technique during foraging that temporarily stuns the prey by taking it out of its element,’ Field explained.
Field explained that sea lions are opportunistic and can be hard to read.
She added: ‘California sea lions are wild animals that can be unpredictable.’
Field explained that sea lions are opportunistic and can be hard to read
The sea lions in San Francisco are a huge attraction for tourist from all over the world.
Sea lions are known to attack swimmers in San Francisco’s Aquatic Park, but those attacks are said to be rare.
The Marine Mammal Center advises people to keep a safe distance away from sea lions. People who see a sea lion or seal in distress, can call the Marine Mammal Center at 415-289-SEAL.