Shark Attacks of 2024: The Most Harrowing Instances of Human-Wildlife Conflict
Sharks have more fear of humans than we do of them — but in 2024, there were multiple instances of human-wildlife conflict.
Updated Oct. 8 2024, 12:04 p.m. ET
Despite the public perception of sharks as terrifying creatures hungry for human blood, the odds of a fatal shark attack, according to PETA, are one in 3.7 million. Even in these instances, sharks aren't attacking maliciously — sharks often bite to understand what's happening.
Unfortunately, as a fear response to these scary-looking sea creatures, humans have started trophy hunting great white sharks. Sharks are incredibly important for the welfare of the ocean, and removing any animal from an ecosystem has devastating effects.
That said, it's important to be careful in all ocean waters where sharks could be present. Here are some of the shark attacks of 2024.
On Oct. 6, 2024, a woman's remains were discovered inside a shark.
On Oct. 8, 2024, the New York Post reported that the remains of an American tourist named Colleen Monfore were discovered inside a shark on Oct. 6. Monfore had previously been swept out to sea while diving with six friends around Pulau Reong island on Sept. 26. A follow up by the Post says Monfore may have been experiencing a "medical issue" while diving which caused her to become adrift.
A fisherman caught the shark on Oct. 6, but told the outlet that the creature appeared "not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net." Upon cutting open the animal, the fisherman tragically discovered Monfore's body, which was clad in a black wetsuit. Monfore was identified using the body's fingerprints, per the Post.
On July 4, 2024, four people were injured in two separate shark attacks.
On July 4, 2024, four people were injured in two separate shark attacks. The first attack occurred in South Padre Island, Texas, where a shark bit three people before being pushed further out to sea, per NBC News.
The second attack took place in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, when a 21-year-old man was playing football in knee-deep water and received a shark bite.
In both instances, it is unclear what kind of shark was involved in the attack, but in the Texas attack, Fire Chief Jim Pigg told NBC News that they are investigating. All of the attack victims had been taken to a hospital for their injuries.
On June 23, 2024, lifeguard and surf instructor Tamayo Perry was killed in a shark attack in Hawaii.
According to Hawaiian officials, Tamayo Perry, a lifeguard and surf instructor who appeared in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Blue Crush died in a shark attack on June 23, 2024.
Per CNN, Honolulu Ocean Safety arrived at a beach shortly before 1 p.m. after receiving a call about a surfer who had been injured in a shark attack. Tragically, after being brought to shore via jet ski, Perry was declared dead.
On June 7, 2024, an Arkansas nurse saved a shark attack victim's life in Florida.
According to 5 News, while on vacation, Arkansas emergency department nurse Ashley Phillips was snorkeling when she heard screams and splashing. When she saw a woman being pulled from the water, Phillips rushed to help. She and two others, who also worked in healthcare, did their best to stop the bleeding of a shark attack victim who had lost her hand and sustained injuries to her side.
Thankfully, emergency responders did arrive 30 minutes later, and the victim is in stable condition.
On Jan. 15, 2024, a boy was bitten by a shark while vacationing in the Bahamas.
On Jan. 15, 2024, the Royal Bahamas Police force issued an alert that a 10-year-old boy on vacation from Maryland had been bitten by a shark.
The attack took place around 4 p.m. local time while the boy was "participating in an expedition in a Shark Tank at a local resort" on Paradise Island. The boy was bitten on his leg and then immediately transferred to a hospital, where he is in stable condition.
This article, originally published on January 17, 2024, has been updated.
