"Since the beginning of the pandemic, animals worldwide – from bears and bobcats at Yosemite to marine life in Hawaii – have been spotted reclaiming their natural habitats."
Last week, Ben Kelly, a 26-year-old surfer and shaper from Santa Cruz, was hit by a Great White and tragically died from his injuries on the beach. According to the coroner, the shark was likely a “sub-adult in the 10-foot range.”
Shark sightings are not uncommon along this stretch of northern California coast but attacks are rare, though in a recent interview host of Animal Planet’s “Extinct of Alive” and wildlife biologist Forrest Galante suggested there could be a spike as surfers return to the water as “stay-at-home” orders associated with Coronavirus prevention are relaxed.
Per Santa Cruz’s local KRON4 news, Galante said, “…the shark that attacked and killed Kelly probably had not seen a surfer in the area since stay-at-home orders were enacted. With a lack of humans in the water, the shark was most likely comfortable and attacked when its area was disturbed.”
Shark attacks are most often a case of mistaken identity as they hunt for seals, Galante said, adding that the increase in shark sightings is not uncommon since sharks are now hunting in areas previously frequented by humans.
People are urged to exercise extreme cation, especially since many California beaches are reopening or are expected to reopen this week.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, animals worldwide – from bears and bobcats at Yosemite to marine life in Hawaii – have been spotted reclaiming their natural habitats as humans continue to shelter-in-place amid the pandemic.
A memorial fund has been set up for expenses associated with Kelly’s funeral. Donate here.
Friend of mine’s been surfing this bank daily the past month. Says theyve been seeing alot of them. Apparently a heli counted 15 whites in the area the day the attack occurred. Also– this was Ben’s first time ever surfing the place.
Galante’s grasping at straws, hes a tv personality nd hes gotta make himself relevant somehow. I dont think we can really say how or why a shark bites a person, but with so many nearby the odds just go up.
“have been spotted reclaiming their natural habitats”
Just like Dane and Chapter 11!
Proving yourself right is way more important than proving the truth…that must be Confucius…or Buddha…maybe just an uneducated dumbass
Pretty confident some mice out there in labs around the globe might challenge that statement.
I’d like this guy more if he didn’t base his comedy on sending up the new age industry, while his main income is derived as being a life coach. In Byron Bay. He is the male version of the murfers.
glad you beat it. I have a very fit, strong friend, no underlying condition. 61 days in hospital 31 of them in a coma. 1% chance of survival, just got home.
Age?
53
Dolphins like me cause they are smart
I’m surprised your not crook yet.
Isthere one called Believe everything Baldy tells you on BG? Starring Valiant Scorn and Michael Newman in cameos?
Chas, doesn’t this beg the question, though? Aren’t we in our now natural habitat, too? At home, on the couch, tele and its 600 channels on, computer pinging, cell phone swiping, telling everyone they’re idiots for not thinking like me? It’s like WALL-E, without the redeeming robot love story. Let the rest of life reclaim 1/2 the earth. Only strengthens our chance at overall species survival anyway.
WHO cares?
Plenty of activity here. A young grom and his dad went back to Melbourne quick smart this afternoon following an encounter. I tried to calm him down but he sounded exactly like that guy at Winki. Poor kid. At least he had an excuse.
https://youtu.be/gvZinTjPtyY