
A Florida swimmer pulled out a small shark from water for a quick photoshoot.
A Florida man grabbed a small shark from ocean for a photo session on the beach, a week after a group of beachgoers did a similar thing to a baby dolphin, which eventually died. The feat of the Florida man sparked outrage both online and offline.
The man and his struggling prey were caught on camera by onlookers. The video shows that man holding the shark against the sand while his friends immortalize the moment. After the photo session, the man decides to let the fish go. But he needed help from a friend to get the shark in water.
The disturbing video, which was taken in Palm Beach a few days ago, was posted on Facebook by journalist Ashleigh Walters. The reporter wrote in a comment that the animal “did not resurface for several minutes” after it was released.
The footage, however, sparked online outrage. Hundreds of shocked users called the Florida beachgoer ‘despicable’ and ‘idiot.’ Others wished the man a deadly encounter with the shark.
A user imagined a scene where sharks hold the man underwater for a photoshoot while the man struggles to breathe, while another user deemed the video ‘sick’ and said onlookers should be ashamed of themselves for what they did to the ‘poor shark.’
Nevertheless, not everyone was outraged by the video. Some users kept their cool and argued that it is not the first time anyone takes a photo of the fish they caught.
Still, not all photo sessions with marine animals have a happy ending. Last week, a group of Argentinians caught a rare baby dolphin and passed it around for pics and petting. Unfortunately, the small animal died.
Wildlife experts explained that the baby dolphin belongs to an endangered species that can only be found in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The small animal was plucked from water as it was swimming close to the shore.
In the wake of the sad incident, the Argentine Wildlife Foundation issued recommendations for all beachgoers to release dolphins in ocean if they caught them swimming close to the shore.
The baby dolphin is a Franciscana dolphin, which is the only river dolphin species that can live in salt water as well. It is on an international list of endangered species and was described by conservationists as a ‘vulnerable’ species. Experts believe that there are fewer than 30,000 specimens left in the world right now.
Image Source: Wikimedia