Crocodile collides with sharks right on the beach

Sharks and crocodiles share common habitats and prey, so they can interact when foraging .

Sharks and crocodiles forage together on the beach. (Video: Vincent Bates).

Local fisherman Vincent Bates captured footage of sharks and crocodiles in shallow waters off a beach in North Queensland, Yahoo News reported on September 18. The video attracted a lot of attention as soon as it was posted on social media.

In the video, the shark is seen actively moving, while the crocodile appears to be patiently waiting for its prey. The shark chases small fish and swims along the shore, at times even encountering the crocodile.

While this may seem strange to some, it is actually not unusual, according to marine biologist Laura Sandeman of Human Society International. She explained that sharks and crocodiles both prey on marine animals, so they can interact and compete for food. However, this is rarely caught on camera.

Sharks and crocodiles are both opportunistic and marine predators and will eat what they can.

"Sharks and crocodiles share the same habitat. Seeing something like this is impressive, but certainly not out of the natural order. They are both opportunistic predators and are active in the sea, so they will eat what they can ," Sandeman said.

Some have suggested that overfishing may have led to sharks hunting in shallow waters alongside crocodiles. However, Sandeman says that's not true, although overfishing certainly affects sharks in general. She says the predators in the video are just looking for a quick meal when fishing boats are nearby.

'This behavior is quite common in sharks. Sharks, depending on the species, can forage in shallow water, especially when they are young. Shallow water is certainly not outside their natural environment. So we are seeing quite natural shark behavior,' Sandeman explained. She also said the video is a good example of the dangers that the ocean can pose.

Meanwhile, crocodiles often search for food near the water's edge. They are cleverly camouflaged in the water and can wait for up to an hour before pouncing on their prey. Visitors to beaches and areas where crocodiles are known to be present are advised to stay at least 5 metres away from the water's edge for their own protection.