HomeNewsFright in Mallorca: Big shark swims to the beach
Bathers spotted the two-meter-long predator on the beach in Cala Llombards. Apparently it got lost.
A blue shark in the water Beatrix Schmitt/Imago
That doesn’t happen every day in Mallorca: A blue shark got lost on the beach on the Spanish holiday island. The animal, which is around two meters long, was sighted by residents and visitors to the municipality of Santanyí on the beach in Cala Llombards on Sunday evening, as reported by Mallorcan media on Monday. Santanyí, about 50 kilometers south-east of the island’s capital, Palma, is particularly popular with German holidaymakers and second-home owners.
A woman took video footage released by the media showing the shark swimming back into the sea under its own power after a brief struggle. Actually, blue sharks live in deeper waters and are therefore mainly far out in the sea. The sharks that are spotted near shore are mostly sick animals that stray onto the beaches.
2017: Several shark sightings cause panic among bathers
Most recently, in June 2017, several shark sightings within a few days off the southwest coast of Mallorca terrified swimmers. One animal – a one and a half meter long blue shark – was then caught and euthanized by the Spanish Coast Guard. This, in turn, sparked outrage among animal rights activists.
Experts emphasize that beach holidaymakers need not be afraid. However, if you see the distinctive dorsal fins, you should dial the emergency number so that specialists can help the animals.
Many vacationers have already taken advantage of the sunny weather on Mallorca for a dip in the sea over the past few days. The water temperature at Playa de Palma is currently 17 degrees, the air temperature is above 20 degrees during the day.