Shark Attack on Stingray Caught on Video at Tulum Beach

Tulum, Quintana Roo — The circulation of several videos on social media, showing what would be a presumed shark attack in waters near Playa Santa Fe within the Jaguar Park, has generated alert and various reactions among users, tourists, and service providers.

In one of the circulating recordings, the moment is observed when a marine animal, presumably a shark, attacks a stingray while both are in the sea, a short distance from the coast.

The video shows abrupt movements in the water, which have been interpreted by users as a direct attack by the shark.

In a second recording, captured from the shore, the stingray is seen already out of the water, with a considerable part of its body visibly devoured, an image that has reinforced among internet users the version of a possible encounter with a shark.

According to the comments accompanying the publications, the incident would have occurred in the vicinity of Playa Santa Fe; however, the exact location has not been confirmed so far.

This lack of verifiable information has prevented establishing whether the incident occurred recently or if it is material captured days or even weeks earlier.

Until the closing of this edition, municipal authorities, as well as Civil Protection bodies and agencies responsible for beach safety, had not issued a statement regarding the presumed sighting of the shark.

Nor has there been any report about the activation of preventive protocols, such as the temporary closure of beaches, restrictions on entering the sea, or the raising of warning flags for bathers.

Marine biologists have pointed out on different occasions that the presence of sharks on the coast of the Mexican Caribbean is not an unusual phenomenon, as they are a natural part of the ecosystem; however, encounters close to the shore usually generate concern among the population and tourism.