The legs, arms and severed torso of a person were all found inside the stomach of a tiger shark caught by sport fishermen last weekend, according to The Press Association, The Boston Herald, and numerous other reports.
Tiger sharks can swim over long distances, so it is not yet clear where the 12-foot-long shark consumed its human victim. Police are currently conducting DNA tests on the person's remains, Assistant Police Commissioner Glenn Miller in Nassau, Bahamas, told AP.
(A juvenile tiger shark from the region. The captured shark was likely a fully grown adult of this species. Credit: Albert Kok)
At least two people were recently reported as being missing in the Bahamas, according to Miller, who isn't ruling out any possible scenario just yet. For example, the person could have already been dead, and the shark may have just scavenged that individual's remains. Miller said a boat on its way to Florida capsized, so the person on board that fateful vessel could have drowned before being discovered by the tiger shark.
Humphrey Simmons, an investment banker from the Bahamas, was one of the fisherman who hooked the tiger shark. Simmons said the remains clearly belonged to a man.
“He had neither clothes nor any identifying marks,” Simmons said.
Marie Levine of New Jersey's Shark Research Institute commented that shark attacks on humans are still unlikely. She also indicated to AP that this gory find is either evidence of a shark scavenging episode, or an extremely rare attack on humans.
“With tiger sharks, it’s unusual for them to attack someone when alive,” she said. “They don’t tend to go after something that’s alive and can fight back.”
Extremely graphic photos of the discovery are at this NBC Miami page. Warning: Viewer discretion advised.
Tags: Animal Behavior, Animals, Current Events, Fish, Humans,
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