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At first, it was just another day at Banzai Pipeline beach when a Hawaiian turtle ended the boredom. In front of a stunned crowd, the turtle broke the human world record for the longest wave surfed.
Banzai Pipeline, known for its massive waves, became the stage for a breathtaking spectacle on Tuesday afternoon when Tiki, a Hawaiian green turtle, rode a gigantic wave for nearly 600 meters, surpassing the previous human world record held by Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa. Usually, thousands of surfers from around the world can be seen there, but Tiki stole the show, demonstrating that animals can also do freestyle.
Tiki, housed at the island’s turtle conservation center, is well-known among locals for her rather unusual behavior. “She has always been drawn to surfing,” says Malu, one of the caregivers at the center. “She spends hours watching humans surf. We never thought she would go as far as breaking a world record!”
A panel of professional surfers, present on the beach for a charity event, validated Tiki’s performance. “It’s incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it. This turtle has real talent,” says Keanu Asing, a professional surfing champion. “Can turtles compete in official competitions?” Asing joked. “Because I think she would give many of us a run for our money.”
This unusual and unexpected feat raises a philosophical question: are we, humans, ready to share our activities, which we consider to be exclusively human, with animals? As Dr. Kanani Makaimoku, a renowned ethologist, stated: “Animals have a capacity for adaptation and learning that we often underestimate. This turtle, in addition to amazing us, reminds us how full of surprises the animal world is.”
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