A Boy Started Petting Something Before He Realized What It Was

It’s usually a fun time for the whole family when you go on vacation. Everyone enjoys being in a new place, trying new things, and relaxing away from the typical hustle. However, you might not think about the danger of certain areas, such as the ocean or beach.

One family visited the beach on a warm, sunny day, just as many other tourists have done in the past. They believed it was a regular day for them to see the sights and relax by the water. However, their son then felt something try to push him into the ocean. What was the creature, and could it be harmful?

Something Stirs

The water shifted in the light’s reflection, almost as if something was under it. Then, one boy felt it touch his feet, almost causing him to lose balance. He hurried up the stairs, hoping he was safe. However, he wanted to see what it was, not expecting its sheer size!

The Legendary Creature

Everyone enjoys La Gomera because it’s well-known for its gorgeous beaches and landscapes. Visitors come from everywhere to the Spanish Canary Islands and that place in particular. However, no one ever saw something like that, causing rumors to spread about what lived in the shallow waters of the beach.

Beneath the Waves

Joel was enjoying his vacation at the Valle Gran Rey resort until he met with a horrific sight. The small family wanted to surf, but he wasn’t as overjoyed once he realized that something was beneath him while he played!

The Footage

Thankfully, Joe’s full encounter was caught on film, but he didn’t have a clue that his YouTube video could go viral. It had more than 50 million views and was circulated on all social media platforms. The video starts with the boy in the water.

Watching and Waiting

Joel was just playing in the water, but something else wanted to join in. The water was frothing, and something in it barreled straight for him. Finally, it reared its alien-like head. Did Joel see it before it reached him?!

The Illusion

As fast as the creature came, it left. People wondered if they had seen anything at all and thought it might be a trick of their minds. The current could have made it feel like there was something, but they checked his footage, realizing how lucky they were!

Black Mass Rises

Soon, the animal returned with black water churning. It’s a nightmare to experience something that isn’t there touching you. However, it’s even worse when it reappears and proves you were right initially.

Crowd Warnings

People watching this event shouted at the boy to get out of the water. They worried that the creature was a shark. However, Joel wanted to know what tried knocking him into the water, hoping it was a whale.

What It Could Be

Humpback whales can get close to harbors. About 300 are spotted each year in New York’s harbor, searching for food. Once Joel assessed the situation, he realized it wasn’t a whale. It was too nimble, which caused him to want more information.

An Unforgettable Scene

Joel went up the steps to stay safe and get a better view. He turned, seeing a sight that no one could ever forget. The enormous creature came from the sea, dragging itself onto the lowest step, almost ready to touch the boy!

Colossal

In the video, it was possible to see the creature’s full size. Water rolled from its back to reveal a colossal and oily body. Joel had never been accosted by one or seen one before. Everyone was in shock, waiting to see what happened.

An Unearthly Creature

This nearly unearthly creature lurched forward, causing onlookers to give a startled cry when they saw what it was. It was a huge manta ray, spanning 4 meters wide. Was it dangerous, and why was it after Joel?

Outsized

The giant manta ray was larger than the boy, at roughly triple the size. Everyone begged Joel to come back, but he wasn’t scared. In fact, he was smiling and hollered that everything was okay. This creature wasn’t what they believed.

Sliding His Hand Inside

Joel now knew what to do. He had been visiting this spot for a few days and was well aware of what the manta ray needed. The crowd watched while the creature opened up its mouth, letting Joel put a hand inside and then open up the fist.

A Sense of Danger

Everyone watched as the boy put a hand into this beast’s mouth. They all worried he might get injured by this wild animal, but that never happened. Still, no one could have expected what happened next!

Wild Animal

The wild animal opened up its mouth, waiting until Joel removed his hand before biting down. Everyone uttered a gasp of relief when they saw the beautiful scene happening right in front of their eyes.

Tame

This manta ray was unafraid of humans and had learned of a good way to grab a meal. It came up to the tourists, who fed it when they had gotten over the shock. Joel had food in his hand, trying to tempt the creature.

The Happy Manta Ray

After Joel fed it a few times, he stroked the animal’s back. This manta ray ended up waving a fin as if to say thanks. Then, it left for a while, coming back to get some more petting, and finally headed out to sea once more.

Waiting for Treats

The fishing harbor was a place for many unbelievable scenes, and the Vueltas people knew this. They recognized the creatures, realizing that the manta rays follow fishing boats to get some treats. However, the sailors and fishermen weren’t always tolerant.

The Omen

These creatures were very large and strong, which is why the superstitions on manta rays persisted. Some sailors thought that they were bad luck. However, another side of these beautiful animals was revealed in 1978.

The Friendly Giant

California divers filmed the interactions they had with the manta rays in the bay, showing people that they weren’t a threat and were actually placid. However, more people shared their recorded experiences as social media became more popular.

Needing Help

In one such video, some divers located a stingray. It started swimming toward them, showing that it was caught in someone’s net. They untangled it so that it could go on its merry way. However, this highlights a danger that the rays face.

Entanglement

Many rays get entangled in fishing nets. In fact, it happens so frequently that the conservationists believe this species might go extinct. Footage of the friendly beasts can help, and manta tourism is now popular because of the videos.

Tourism

Manta tourism can raise awareness of the manta’s plight, boosting the local economy. Indonesia has actually banned manta fishing, finding that tourism is more profitable. One hunted ray brings in $500, but live animal attractions earn about $1 million within the animal’s lifetime.

Another Very Curious Creature

An unknown creature actually ended up causing mayhem out in Wareham, Massachusetts, with the police station seeing the worst of it. Calls were coming in each day, with people seeing a threatening creature swimming all around. However, there was a big problem.

Worried Locals

Some callers had terrifying accounts to tell, but many others thought the creature was hurt. Garry Buckminster claimed to get calls at his personal number beginning at 6:30 a.m. Everyone who called was concerned, though they all had different stories.

Similar Reports

While each call was different, everyone said that the creature moved in a strange way. It used jerky movements and was quite large. Some believed it was a dangerous shark, but others feared it was an injured seal. Still, the truth shocked everybody!

Sending Detectives

Buckminster knew he had to solve the mystery, so he sent two officers out to search the cove. Soon, they noticed it in the water. When they got a bit closer, they saw that it was a Sunfish, an interesting animal.

The Sunfish

They confirmed that this creature wasn’t suffering and was fine. That’s just how it swims, so it looks clumsy from farther away. However, the tourists continued calling, causing the police to issue a statement explaining the Sunfish. Soon, it was a source of amusement for everyone.

Raising Awareness

As overfishing, climate change, and pollution affect the oceans, conservation efforts are necessary. While the encounters of Joel and the police made great videos, they bring awareness to those species. People see more of them, realizing that they’re friendly and sensitive.

Beach Time

Hunter really wanted to go to the beach. The 7-year-old finally got there and raced to the waves. He hoped to collect shells, build sandcastles, and go snorkeling, which was a lot, so he had to start immediately.

A Great Start

The weather was perfect, and there weren’t many people there. The boy had the beach all to himself. He was hoping to do all sorts of things, and then his mom said he could go farther than normal. However, she didn’t know that it was such a bad idea.

Something New

Hunter wandered along the shore, dragging his feet in the sand and kicking at the waves. Normally, snails, shells, and driftwood caught his attention, but this time, he noticed a flash of blue that he’d never seen before.

Questioning It

He inched ever closer and was highly curious. Could it be a pretty stone or a seashell? Hunter liked to read books, so he was confident right now. However, he thought that it might be trash, and that was a bummer. Overall, he saw that it was alive!

Very Strange

This creature looked alien and had tendrils. It twitched and swayed with the water, and Hunter knew his parents had to see it. What if he had discovered a new species? Overall, his knowledge and love of nature saved his life that day!

Being Careful

Hunter knew that many dangerous things lived in the ocean. Therefore, he scooped up the creature with a shovel, putting it in his bucket. Then, he rushed to his dad, showing him. However, his dad was instantly fearful!

Terrified Dad

His dad demanded that Hunter put it down like it was a bomb. This caused the boy’s joy to drain, and he set down the bucket with shaking hands. Something was very wrong, and then his dad said that they couldn’t go swimming that day.

The Local Warnings

Hunter was desperate to know what was happening. Finally, his dad picked up his phone to check the local news. The creatures weren’t new, but they were well-known and extremely dangerous.

Type of Slug

The sea animals were actually blue dragon slugs. They were very toxic and should never be touched. While Hunter was scared to have come across it, he was still curious. Therefore, his dad handed him the phone to learn more.

Better Safe

The local government had issued a warning to the people in the area. That’s why no one was at this beach. It just goes to show that education and awareness are very important!