Cape Cod Great White Shark Case Makes Waves: WMEO’s Pumpkin Spice Reports Live
What happens when protected wildlife becomes the center of a criminal case… and Pumpkin Spice reports from shark-infested waters?
Banner:
Good evening and welcome to WMEO News, where we meow, you listen.
Tonight, authorities in Massachusetts have charged a New York fisherman with animal cruelty after authorities say the fisherman illegally captured a shark named Aaron and dragged the shark onto a beach.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty and maintains the catch was accidental.
For more on this developing story, we go live to our field correspondent, Pumpkin Spice.
Pumpkin?
What Authorities Allege Happened to Aaron the Shark
Pumpkin Spice:
Thank you, Banner.
I’m reporting live from Cape Cod, where authorities have charged a New York fisherman after investigators say a protected great white shark named Aaron was illegally captured and dragged onto a beach for photographs.
According to court documents, the incident allegedly involved bait deployed by drone and resulted in the shark being removed from the water before later being released.
Wildlife experts say great white sharks are a protected species and should generally not be treated as props for vacation pictures
Balboa Has Concerns About the Reporting Conditions
Balboa (interrupting from the studio): PUMPKIN!
SHARK!
SHARK BEHIND YOU!
GET OUT OF THE WATER!
Pumpkin Spice: Thank you, Balboa.
As I was saying, the shark involved in the case was named Aaron and authorities allege…
Balboa: NO, NOT THAT SHARK!
THE OTHER SHARK!
THE ONE SWIMMING TOWARD YOU!
Pumpkin Spice: Balboa, I’m standing in the ocean.
Finding a shark out here is a little like finding a cat in a living room.
Balboa: THAT CAT HAS THREE HUNDRED TEETH!
Pumpkin Spice: Your point is noted.
Authorities say Aaron was a tagged research shark, making the allegations particularly concerning to marine biologists.
Balboa: PUMPKIN!
IT’S CLOSER!
I REPEAT!
THE SHARK IS CLOSER!
Pumpkin Spice: For viewers just joining us, Balboa appears to be experiencing what medical professionals refer to as “a lot.”
Balboa: THIS IS NOT A LOT!
THIS IS A SHARK!
Pumpkin Spice: The shark behind me has so far demonstrated significantly better behavior than the humans involved in this case.
Balboa: I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING.
Banner: Balboa, please allow Pumpkin to finish the report.
Balboa: FINE.
BUT I WANT IT ON RECORD THAT I’M THE ONLY ONE TAKING THE SHARK SERIOUSLY.
Pumpkin Spice: And as I was saying before being interrupted by our station’s emergency panic department, the defendant has pleaded not guilty and maintains the catch was accidental.
The case is expected to continue through the Massachusetts court system.
Meanwhile, Aaron has reportedly returned to the ocean where experts agree he belongs.
Balboa: UNLIKE YOU!
YOU DO NOT BELONG THERE!
Pumpkin Spice: Reporting live from Cape Cod, where the wildlife appears considerably calmer than my coworkers, I’m Pumpkin Spice.
Back to the studio.
Banner: Thank you, Pumpkin.
And thank you, Balboa, for whatever it is you’ve contributed this evening.
