Giant Squid Washed Ashore in South Africa, Impressing Beachgoers with a Rare Sight
A giant squid washing ashore is the kind of sight most people only read about, but beachgoers in South Africa got the real thing in Kommetjie.
At Long Beach, visitors found the carcass of a giant squid measuring 7.2 feet, with tentacles stretching about 11.5 feet. The rare discovery quickly drew attention, especially because these deep-sea animals are so rarely seen near the surface.
Now the photos are making the rounds, and the story behind the stranded squid is just as unusual as the animal itself.
A giant squid on shore is something people do not often see.
A child gazes at the squid in wonder. He is fortunate to have witnessed such a sight.
That kind of surprise does not come along every day.
Some people who saw the squid believed it had been injured by an engine propeller.
Some individuals had already taken pieces from the giant squid carcass. The locals also removed its beak and eyes.
Things got messy fast once word spread.
Speaking of rare sightings, this matches the colossal squid filmed for the first time in 100 years.
Others reported it to a local wildlife team.
Samples were also collected for the Iziko Museums of South Africa's natural science history collection.
Even in a rare find like this, not everyone handled it the same way.
The event left some marine enthusiasts puzzled. It is supposed to live in the depths, yet it reached the shore.
Paulus was disappointed that the squid did not make it to the museum as a whole.
Still, she and her family were thrilled to see it mostly intact. Her two young sons are also wildlife enthusiasts, so they immediately hurried to the scene.
Let's learn more about the giant squid.
Giant squids are called "giant" for a reason. The longest one discovered was around 43 feet long (13 meters) and weighed almost a ton.
However, reports can sometimes exaggerate the size of these creatures. This is because their tentacles tend to stretch or fall off.
To determine the actual size of the giant squid, scientists generally consider the mantle length. They can potentially grow that large, so you would think that spotting one would be easy.
But since they live in the depths, consider yourself lucky if you see one washed ashore. If you encounter a giant squid or any other rare animal, make it a priority to report it to the authorities while you admire the sight.
Do not do what the locals did by taking some parts of it. Who knows, keeping it intact might help experts discover something new about the creature.
Want more squid drama, watch the divers film the giant squid with massive eyes off Japan.
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