A great white shark that washed ashore at a Cape Cod beach earlier this week is named Koala, and was known to local researchers, investigators said. Its cause of death is still a mystery, as a necropsy was inconclusive.

Local shark researchers have performed a rare necropsy of a 12-foot great white shark that washed up dead on a Cape Cod beach. The mature male shark — previously identified as “Koala” in 2022 — was found on Nauset Beach earlier this week, and he was secured by officials from the town of Orleans and the Orleans Police Department.

Massachusetts police had to call in a tow truck to remove a giant great white shark after it washed up dead on a beach in Cape Cod. It remains unclear how the 12 ft (3.6m) shark died, local officials say, but they have been able to identify the animal.