Several beachgoers were caught on camera laughing at a helpless great white shark after trapping it in a net and pulling it onto a beach in New Zealand in order to kick the beast and take selfies with it.
The incident occurred at Orewa Beach in Auckland, whereas a group of men was seen attacking the beached shark and taking pictures with it.
After other upset beachgoers attempted to intervene, the men allegedly became aggressive and “exceptionally intimidating.”
“Police and [Conservation officials] arrived on the scene as other beachgoers attempted to pull the shark back into the water. The group of men gave false details to police and joined the larger group,” one of the witnesses said according to stuff.co.nz.
While several beachgoers and lifeguards tried to get the shark to swim away by dragging it back into the sea, the animal didn’t move and was pronounced dead after it was washed back onto the sand.
Following the incident, angry animal rights activists demanded that the men who kicked the helpless shark get arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
According to New Zealand laws, the great whites are a protected species and those responsible for killing the majestic fish could land a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to 6 months in jail.
As some people have also argued, the police should have arrested the attackers on the spot as they knew that they were accused of kicking the beast by several witnesses.
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Replaced!