Giant Squid Washed Ashore in South Africa, Impressing Beachgoers with a Rare Sight
It's not every day that you get to see a large squid up close. That's why beachgoers in South Africa were astounded by what they encountered.
It was the carcass of a giant squid discovered by people at Long Beach in the town of Kommetjie. According to Alison Paulus, founder of Volunteer and Explore (a wildlife conservation group) and a resident of Cape Town, the body measured 7.2 feet (2.2 meters), and its tentacles stretched about 11.5 feet (3.5 meters).
Giant squids are among the most elusive creatures on Earth. They inhabit depths ranging from one thousand to three thousand feet.
Moreover, they do not often rise to the surface. For hundreds of years, scientists have only been able to gather information about these animals through
their carcasses that are either washed ashore or found within sperm whale bellies.
According to National Geographic, it was in 2004 that people captured the first images of a living giant squid. This was taken 2,950 feet beneath the North Pacific Ocean.
While the sight of a giant squid on the shores of South Africa is rare, people have encountered such sights before. In 2020, a baby giant squid was found.
Now, let's take a look at the pictures seen by the beachgoers.
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.
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.
Others reported it to a local wildlife team.
Samples were also collected for the Iziko Museums of South Africa's natural science history collection.
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.
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