A group of beachgoers at Island Beach State Park were stunned Thursday as they witnessed a dolphin being attacked by a school of sharks just feet from the shoreline, according to officials and eyewitnesses.
The incident occurred in shallow water and was captured on video, showing multiple sharks surrounding the dolphin before mauling it in a rapid and violent frenzy. The attack took place in broad daylight and alarmed swimmers, some of whom were already in the water.
Moments earlier, the sharks attacked a dolphin in the same area, but the dolphin escaped. It is believed that the sharks reorganized and attacked the same dolphin again, this time with a deadly result.
Shark sightings along the Jersey Shore have increased in recent years, especially during warmer months when bait fish and marine mammals are more abundant near the coast.
No people were injured during the incident, and no beach closures were reported as of Friday morning.
Key Points
- A dolphin was attacked and killed by a group of sharks near the shore at Island Beach State Park
- The violent scene unfolded in shallow water and was captured on video
- No beachgoers were injured, and the incident is under review by wildlife officials