Overview
- Eyewitness video first posted by Monica Pittenger on Instagram shows two long, ribbon-like oarfish in shallow water at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
- Pittenger says her sister and other beachgoers entered the surf to push the struggling fish into deeper water as onlookers hesitated.
- According to the eyewitness account, both fish swam away after being steered offshore, and the group stayed to see if they would return.
- The clips were widely reposted, including by the We Love Animals channel on YouTube, drawing millions of views and extensive media coverage.
- Oarfish typically inhabit depths near 3,000 feet and can reach about 30 feet in length; scientists note their rare near-shore appearances do not predict natural disasters.