PHOTO COURTESY: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. A necropsy is performed on a shark that died on Nauset Beach in Orleans Sunday
ORLEANS – The initial necropsy conducted on a shark that died on Nauset Beach in Orleans Sunday showed no internal trauma.
Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Executive Director Cynthia Wigren said state shark expert Dr. Greg Skomal conducted the procedure yesterday at the Orleans transfer station.
Further tests will be done on samples taken from the shark in an attempt to determine why it died.
The great white was spotted struggling in shallow water Sunday. Wigren said a man had spotted the 12-foot-long shark while walking on Nauset Beach.
The shark had died by the time officials responded to the area. Wigren said the male shark hadn’t been tagged. Researchers estimate it was over 20 years old.
The incident marks the year’s first shark stranding on Cape Cod. Three sharks were stranded last year.
Great white sharks usually begin migrating south in November.
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