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Beachgoers today spotted an 8-foot tiger shark, which swallowed a dead bird whole, in waters off Kihei, the Maui Fire Department said in a news release.
The shark came within 25 feet of shore, according to two beachgoers who saw it approach “the carcass and swallowed it whole, then swam away,” the fire department said.
The shark was spotted off Kamaoke Beach Park II just before noon Wednesday.
Lifeguards warned beachgoers at noon of the shark sighting and closed waters off Kamaoke Parks I, II and III. Using a rescue watercraft, they cleared swimmers from the ocean and patrolled the area beaches. Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement officers also went to the scene and warned beachgoers to stay out of the water.
The waters were reopened at 2 p.m. after the shark was no longer seen.
This was the third shark encounter this month on Maui.
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