Korean aquarium shark swallows rival in territory dispute

SEOUL, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A territorial sand tiger shark at a South Korean aquarium ended her feud with another shark by devouring him head first.

Footage recorded at the COEX aquarium in Seoul shows the female sand tiger shark slowly eating the male banded hound shark head-first, one bite at the time, until only its tail was hanging out of her mouth.

The victorious shark is 8 years old and measures 7.2 feet long, while her victim was only 5 years old and measured 3.9 feet long.

Aquarium officials said the incident was likely a territorial dispute between the two predators.

The COEX aquarium said sharks have been seen fighting in their tanks before, but the incident marked the first time a shark was devoured by another.

Experts said the surviving shark is likely to regurgitate its swallowed rival during the next few days, as she is unlikely to be able to digest the entire fish.