If A Live Shark Washed Up On The Beach, Would You Help It Back Into The Ocean To Save It?

[Physics-Man]

Yes

No

Other

[OneViewpoint]

Sure, I've done that with small sharks, skates, and rays after storms. When I owned a boat, hooking a shark when fishing for other species was not that uncommon. I always released them unharmed even though they were a pain in the ass. They play an important role in ocean ecosystems. And they are really cool to look at. A design so efficient that they have survived for millions of years with little change. I respect that.

I also respect the fact that they can be apex predators and I no longer go in the surf off Cape Cod beaches where the seal population has exploded under environmental protections. Sharks need to feed to survive. I'm OK with that. However I'm not gonna offer myself up for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

[Kaneki05]

I like sharks so I would rather eat it, not let it go to waste. I probably couldn't help it anyway and the risk to my life is greater, even without meaning to the shark could kill me. It's also going to struggle, trashing and I'm not that strong compared to a shark lol.

[purplepoppy]

A porbeagle got in trouble on a beach here and a couple of girls helped it. (Probably had a run in with the local dolphins)

Occasionally a smoothhound gets confused in the surf and I've rescued a few. They're not aggressive and only a few feet long.

That guy in the photos doing it wrong, pulling the tail damages them, you've got to use the pectoral fins.

So yes I'd help it, because it's the right thing to do.

[OneViewpoint]

There's not much slope on that beach in the photo. That would help a lot with a fish that size. And yes, sharks are scary animals in their element but out of water they can be pretty delicate as gravity kicks in. They are not built for an environment where they have neutral buoyancy. On dry land they have zero buoyancy. Pulling on the tail works fine on small sharks. With a shark of that mass you'd definitely damage it. You'd really need a team of people to rescue a fish that size. You may be able to roll it but again, you risk damage to internal organs. Gotta use what ya got and balance the possibility of killing it against time out of the water.

Also depends on why that shark landed on the beach in the first place. A couple of Orcas could have been using it as a toy before they ate its liver. In that case it won't matter if you put it back in the water. Well not to the shark anyway. The Orcas will appreciate the assist.

[OneViewpoint]

* where they don't have neutral buoyancy.

[Genie23]

I can't even move my sofa how could I even help a shark. If I could, I would but make sure I'm not facing it, lol

[KostasKouvalis]

My natural resources background wouldn't allow me. I was taught to let nature take its course, which is the right thing to do

[exitseven]

No, then the SOB would probably come back and bite me.

[Anonymous]

Would the shark help a human in the middle of the Ocean? I don't think so...

I would help a dolphin, or a whale.

[NathanDavis]

100 percent, yes...

[DrPepper12]

Depends on a lot of factors but I'd consider it

[msc545]

No - I think I would get hurt.

[Pterodon]

Depends on the shark and how large

[Chazmatazz269]

Absolutely

[qwerty2469]

Lol. No. Fuck that niqqa

[Bunnybuny]

No too scared

[seeyounexttuesday]

Sure.

[AngryCarl2]

Little help?