Texas State Aquarium comments on shark attacks on South Padre Island

NORTH BEACH – Video of a woman attacked by a shark off the coast of South Padre Island has gone viral.

On Thursday, a shark bit her in the leg in the water. A beachgoer filmed the moments after the attack and posted them on social media.

The woman is believed to be one of four people who may have been attacked by the same shark.

Fernando Arevalo

The shark species has yet to be identified.

However, according to Jesse Gilbert, president and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium, sandbar sharks, blacktip sharks, bull sharks and tiger sharks can be found along the Texas coast year-round. Although they are different species, interactions between sharks and humans are considered extremely rare.

“I think it was pure coincidence,” says Gilbert about the shark attack on South Padre Island.

“The people and the other people didn’t do anything to encourage that. What’s interesting is that if the shark wanted to feed, it would have bitten, torn and then swallowed. It didn’t do that. It just bit. It just bit and moved on. So it’s nothing to be afraid of, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on and respect.”

Jesse advised that if you want to reduce your risk of a shark attack, avoid swimming between dusk and dawn as this is the peak hunting season for hungry sharks. Fishermen should not enter the water with their catch on a line.

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