Turtle fights off shark during ocean battle in Western Australia

Drone footage captured the dramatic moment a loggerhead turtle defeated a tiger shark off the coast of a remote beach in Western Australia.

Video captured the dramatic moment a loggerhead turtle defeated a tiger shark off the coast of a remote beach in Western Australia.

Professional drone operator Jack Garnett told Storyful that he filmed the stunning footage on the last day of a family holiday to the Winderabandi shore.

His three teenage kids had previously seen the loggerhead and affectionately nicknamed it “Mr. Turtle.”

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Professional drone operator Jack Garnett filmed the stunning footage. Picture: Jack Garnett via Storyful

“On our last day at Winderabandi, the girls saw some unusual water splashes 50 metres off the shoreline and the drone was sent out to investigate,” he told the outlet.

“I initially told the kids to not watch the drone video link as it appeared that a large 3 metre tiger shark was in the process of eating poor Mr Turtle.”

However, the turtle used its shell to roll over the angry shark to avoid attacks.

“Over the next 10 or so minutes, our family were truly amazed as we huddled around the screen enraptured by a great battle between Mr Turtle and the tiger shark.” Garnett said.

The loggerhead turtle eventually bit the tiger shark’s tail, causing it to swim away.

“A single mistake by Mr Turtle would have meant a lost limb or fatal bite,” Garnett said.

“[It was] an amazing outcome to see him swimming smoothly and at max power along the shore at the end.”

The turtle used its shell to roll over the angry shark to avoid attacks. Picture: Jack Garnett via Storyful

Marine biologists have identified the turtle’s resourcefulness as “known behaviour” for its species. Picture: Jack Garnett via Storyful

Garnett has since shown the video to marine biologists, who identified the turtle’s resourcefulness as “known behaviour” for its species.

The experts also determined that the tortoise was female based on “the shape of its tail”.

Academic research found that female loggerheads’ speed and mobility can be an advantage in an attack.

“They had never seen footage that captured [a fight] it so clearly and usually the turtles don’t win,” Garnett said.

“They said that turtles are colloquially called tiger shark “sea-biscuits” as they are a favoured meal of the apex predators.”

While Garnett and his family have returned home, they will never forget their encounter with the special turtle.

“My kids have also renamed the turtle, Mrs Turtle,” Garnett added.

Originally published as Turtle fights off shark during ocean battle in Western Australia