Tiger shark eats misplaced cow carcass well off shore

A tiger shark has found an unlikely meal well off the shore of an island in the Indian Ocean, where sailors spotted it munching on the carcass of a cow.

Video shot earlier this month shows the tiger shark tearing to pieces the remains of a horned zebu cow 500m from the coast of Mayotte, a French territory near Madagascar.

Fascinated by the unusual sight, the sailors bring their yacht right up to the carcass for a closer look with their underwater camera.

It is not known how the cow met its demise so far off shore, but the Daily Star says the cameraman's theory is that it fell overboard from a small boat.

Whatever the reason, it's certainly true that beef is a rare treat for sharks.

Zebu originate from South Asia and are known for their distinctive hump.