A group of massive basking sharks have been spotted near the Scottish Highlands coast.
The shoal of around 10 sharks — some reaching up to eight metres in length — was seen off the Moray coastline. RNLI volunteer Graham Campbell captured stunning images using his drone while working in the town of Buckie last week.
He told The Sun he was watching on for a few days before seeing the creatures, with some spread out and some close to the shore. The operator said he kept his distance so not to disturb them before snapping the jaw-dropping images.
READ MORE: Hulking Rottweiler-husky cross left woman’s leg hanging off in 48 hours of dog attacks
Click for more of the latest news from the Daily Star
Enthusiast Graham said: “There are usually one or two there but they seem to be coming in in larger numbers over the last few years. I was down last year to try and see them but they were too far from shore.”
Despite their size and fearsome appearance, basking sharks pose no threat to humans. The gentle giants feed primarily on plankton, making them harmless to beachgoers.
It’s not the first time sharks have been spotted off Scotland. Paddleboarders were left in awe after spotting a massive ’10 metre’ basking shark lurking off Lendalfoot Beach, Girvan, in August.
Certain types of sharks are known to hang out in British waters. They include porbeagle, mako and basking sharks, none of which pose a major threat to humans.
It is highly unlikely for great white sharks to be spotted in UK waters, though some do believe they may exist off the west coast of Scotland. We previously reported a suspected sighting of the apex predator by kayakers who were given quite the fright.
An alarming map has revealed where great big whopping sharks have been found lurking in British waters, amid concerns a killer may soon start cruising Britain’s coastlines. There are 21 permanent species of shark patrolling UK’s coastline, according to charity Shark Trust.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.