Drone footage showing a deceased shark being lifted onto a boat by a government contractor near Snapper Rocks at Rainbow Bay has been making the rounds on social media.

The striking video has sparked varied reactions online. While some viewers expressed relief that the shark was removed from waters frequented by surfers and swimmers, others were dismayed by the killing of the creature.

A representative from the Department of Primary Industries confirmed that this 4.1-meter tiger shark is among 11 caught in Rainbow Bay so far this year.

“Though impressive in size, this shark is not the largest of its kind, as tiger sharks can reach lengths of up to six meters,” the spokesperson explained.

Tiger sharks are specifically targeted by the Shark Control Program, the spokesperson added.

“The purpose of the shark control program is to reduce the risk of shark attacks along Queensland’s coastal beaches.”

Tiger sharks are one of seven target shark species in the program.

Snapper Rocks, at the southern end of Rainbow Bay, is a world-famous surf spot popular with swimmers and surfers.

In 2020, surfer Nick Slater was killed by a great white shark bite at nearby Greenmount Beach.

It was the first fatal shark bite in Gold Coast waters since 1958.