A whale-watching tour off Southern California experienced a rare event when a basking shark was spotted about three miles from shore. Typically found in cooler waters, basking sharks are the second largest sharks in the world, and sightings off California are uncommon. The crew initially mistook the shark for an elephant seal but were thrilled to observe it filter-feeding on small crustaceans. Despite their size and gentle nature, basking sharks are considered vulnerable to extinction, raising questions about their recent appearances in Southern Californian waters.
Crossing paths with a basking shark in Southern California is very rare, but a couple have been reported by boats near Long Beach and San Diego recently.
Basking sharks are the second largest sharks in the world, measuring up to 30 feet as adults, about as long as a school bus.
These gentle giants are typically found in cooler waters, and are rarely spotted in waters off California, raising curiosity about why they were off the coast today.
Oh my gosh, he's filter-feeding! This is absolutely nuts, you guys.
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