A team of divers helped complete the examination of the shark. (Facebook/Nicolas Winkler Photography)
The society along with the group that made the initial report and a team of expert divers returned to the site two days later.
They were able to collect samples for diagnostic and research purposes. The society retrieved the shark’s head, but left the body underwater as food for the other animals.
“We try to take the opportunities when dead animals are involved to study them in as many ways as we can, especially if it helps us save the rest of the living animals,” said Wimmer.
“We don’t often get to handle animals like white sharks. They are endangered. They are considered rare.”
Wimmer said they don’t know the cause of the shark’s death, but she estimates it had been dead for at least a few days upon discovery.
Since October 2022, the society has received reports of five other dead white sharks in the Maritimes. All were found washed up onshore.