Thresher shark beaches itself in California

Luckily it was a happy ending for this little guy, probably thanks to the lifeguards who respected the conservation approach of “don’t touch the wildlife.”

This is an excellent example of how even if a shark gets beached, don’t try to help it. Most times people pull them back to the ocean by their tail, which forces sand and other debris into their gills, increasing the likelihood they will drown once back in the water. I’m pretty sure that’s what happened to that big Mako in Florida last month that every news outlet claimed “Good Samaritans” saved only for it to be found dead in the water the next day.