CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (WECT) – A 14-foot great hammerhead shark washed ashore on the north end of Carolina Beach on Sunday, drawing a response from multiple local agencies and researchers from the North Carolina Shark Conservancy.<\/p>\n
The North Carolina Shark Conservancy first received word of a shark in the surf around 3 a.m. The animal slipped back into the ocean before washing ashore again that afternoon.<\/p>\n
Because of the shark\u2019s size, a team from Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue, the Carolina Beach Fire Department, and the Carolina Beach Police Department worked together to bring the animal fully onto the shore. Experts said the shark was already dead when emergency crews retrieved it.<\/p>\n
Members of the North Carolina Shark Conservancy worked on the sand, collecting measurements and tissue samples from the female shark. At 14 feet, researchers described the animal as extremely large for the species.<\/p>\n
The exact cause of death remains unknown. Researchers noted evidence of fishing interaction, including a deep laceration at the base of the shark\u2019s tail fin and a puncture mark near its jaw. The Shark Conservancy said it will analyze the samples to determine what happened in the animal\u2019s final hours.<\/p>\n
Local officials removed the shark\u2019s body from the beach and are properly disposing of it.<\/p>\n
The Shark Conservancy said scalloped hammerheads are a protected species, making the data and tissue samples collected invaluable for conservation efforts.<\/p>\n
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