The beast on the shore: Giant whale with chunks taken out of it by great white sharks washes up on South African beach

The southern right whale's carcass has now been removed from the beach using a bulldozer and truck



Authorities closed off a stretch of the coast to ward off curious onlookers

It is not yet known if the whale was alive when it was attacked or had already succumbed to an illness


A large section of coastline in South Africa has been closed after a 15-metre whale washed ashore following an attack by great white sharks.

The whale was removed from the surf after its carcass attracted high numbers of great whites to the coast by Muizenberg beach, near Cape Town, on Sunday.

Authorities have since taken the southern right whale from the beach but have closed off a stretch of shore from Muizenberg to Monwabisi 'as a precaution'.

Shark bites: As the whale is flipped over by the bulldozers, sections of its body where sharks had feasted can be seen

Dragged to the shore: The salvage team pulls the dead beast to the beach using a harness

From head to tail: A council salvage team member records the length of the stranded whale's carcass