Sharks circle around their prey together before they strike
(Mirror Daily, United States) – Beachgoers recently witnessed a shark feeding frenzy on Florida beach that was both frightening and fascinating in its nature. It was good news for conservationists, and proved to be quite the spectacle for viewers.
For the two parents, however, it started out as something out of a nightmare. Tyra and Blake Whitlow were enjoying a day at the beach in Panama City. Three of their eldest children were out on a raft, playing in the ocean before the water started to look like “it was boiling”, according to Blake. Their first thought was innocent, thinking that it was “porpoises”.
However, upon understanding that there were, in fact, potentially hundreds of sharks in the water, the couple rushed to get their children out of the ocean. Tyra then proceeded to capture the exquisite event on camera an posted it online. This was along with other dozens of viewers who rushed to the shoreline to witness the underwater warzone created near the beach.
For one hour, around 3 P.M., the waters between Rosemary Beach and Inlet Beach saw to the grand spectacle of sharks swimming, feeding, and nearly bursting through the shallow waters. One shark nearly beached itself within the frenzy, but a viewer can be seen on the video pushing the animal back into the ocean. It was “unbelievable” to see, according Tyra, who captured the entire experience on her camera phone.
It was initially estimated that there were hundreds of sharks in the waters, between 3 and 5 feet in length. However, other beachgoers estimated to have been between 50 to 60 of them frantically swimming and feeding near the shoreline. But, the closer they got to the beach, the more arrived.
According to a shark biologist, Frank J. Schwartz from the University of North Carolina, these frenzies are common for sharks. They circle around their prey, essentially trapping them in the middle. This supposedly leads them to the shallower waters.
A shark researchers from the Florida Museum of Natural History, George Burgess, suggested that the species were blacktip and spinner sharks that were preying on a group of mullets. From a conservationists perspective, this is good news. It means that both the shark population and the mullets are returning to their normal patterns and numbers.
It’s both a spectacular sight to behold, though reportedly a bit unnerving for some.
One moment, you’re enjoying the beach, and the next you might be trapped in the middle of a shark feeding frenzy. Whether they would see one shark is sometimes a question on the minds of Florida beachgoers. To see between 50 to 60 of them is a rare event. It’s also an exceptional and remarkable sight to behold, provided no one gets hurt.
Image source: ignant.de