Giant Shark Stranded on Long Island Beach

It was reported that a 20 foot long basking shark was washed ashore on the beach on New York's Long Island Beach. It appeared to have died due to some kind of illness. Basking sharks are common in the waters off Long Island. This giant washed ashore on a town beach a few miles east of Jones Beach State Park. It was told to be weighed a TON! These sharks are known as the 2nd largest fish, after the whale sharks and can grow to up to 32 feet long. They have huge mouths but these sharks aren't considered dangerous because they mainly feed on plankton.The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the giant sharks as vulnerable to extinction. Researchers have said it was very unusual for the shark to come ashore because usually they die in the ocean.The shark will be buried in nearby sand dunes on the beach.