Tagged Great White Koala Washes Ashore in Cape Cod

A 12-foot great white shark, named Koala, washed ashore on Nauset Beach in Orleans, Massachusetts, prompting the Orleans Police Department to use a tow truck for its removal due to its massive size. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy conducted a necropsy but found no immediate cause of death, although the shark appeared bloodied around its mouth, suggesting internal bleeding. There were no visible bite marks, and further tests are required to determine the exact cause of death. This incident, shared widely on social media, highlighted the unusual nature of the call for local police and beach authorities. The shark's stranding coincides with the end of the great white shark season off Cape Cod, where these predators are often drawn by seals. Researchers noted that the shark had been tagged and identified previously in 2022, emphasizing the importance of ongoing studies on shark populations in the area.