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In a concerted effort to locate a swimmer who may have fallen victim to a shark attack, Israeli police have launched a search along the Mediterranean coastline, particularly near the city of Hadera. This area has gained notoriety for incidents involving marine predators, often attracting beachgoers who venture too close to these animals.
For several years, a population of endangered dusky and sandbar sharks has inhabited the coastal waters, enticing those who are eager to observe them. Conservation organizations have repeatedly issued warnings urging individuals to maintain a safer distance from these creatures, yet these pleas appear to have gone largely ignored. Following reports of the swimmer’s attack, police and rescue teams mobilized to scour the area, and Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that remains of a body had been recovered and dispatched for forensic identification.
The beach was promptly closed to the public as teams utilized boats and underwater gear in their search efforts. While the victim’s identity remained undisclosed, local media suggested that he had entered the water in pursuit of a close encounter with the sharks.
During a weeklong holiday, numerous Israelis flocked to the beaches, sharing the waters with a variety of sharks. Observations noted that some individuals were attempting to touch the sharks while others offered them fish as food.
Dusky sharks can reach lengths of up to four meters and can weigh around 350 kilograms, whereas sandbar sharks are typically smaller, averaging about 2.5 meters in length and weighing approximately 100 kilograms.
Yigael Ben-Ari, who leads the marine ranger division of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, emphasized the unpredictability of shark behavior and advised the public to refrain from swimming in the presence of sharks, or engaging in actions that might provoke them.
Sightings Captured by Onlookers
Footage circulating on Israeli media depicted a shark moving directly toward bathers in shallow waters. In the video, a man filming expressed both awe and trepidation as the animal approached, urging a nearby child to remain still despite the apparent danger. This behavior, noted by an Associated Press photographer just days prior to the incident, contrasted sharply with the guidance provided by the parks authority, highlighting the risks of such close encounters.
According to Ben-Ari, this incident marks only the third recorded shark attack in Israel’s history, a significant reduction considering that a fatal attack was reported in the 1940s. The area has long attracted sharks during the warmer months, particularly where warm water from a nearby power plant is discharged into the sea. Despite existing prohibitions on swimming in these waters, many continue to disregard the rules.
WATCH | Innovative Solutions to Prevent Shark Incidents:
Research has indicated that shark attacks on humans frequently stem from mistaken identity — where swimmers or surfboards are misidentified as seals or sea lions. Scientists, such as Dr. Lucille Chapuis from Seal Island, South Africa, have explored the application of bright LED patterns to alter the visual profile of swimmers, making them less recognizable to sharks. This research was published in Current Biology.
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel criticized the lack of regulatory measures to ensure public safety in the area, noting the chaotic interactions that have developed between humans and wildlife. The organization called for the establishment of designated viewing zones to enable more responsible observation of sharks without the associated risks of swimming near them.
In the wake of the ongoing threat, Israeli authorities took measures to close the affected beach and additional nearby locations on Monday, with these restrictions continuing into Tuesday.
Source
www.cbc.ca