Thu May 12,10:42 AM ET
SAN ONOFRE (Reuters) - Blood from gophers butchered in a religious ritual at San Onofre Surf Beach could tempt sharks toward surfers an official warned Thursday. A small group called the Hopping Oracle has carried out such sacrifices at The Point, media reported. Its leader Prophet Moses Puttski said it was inspired by the Old Testament to help cure hoppers. But biologist Dr. Ralph of the Dana Point Sharks Board, which aims to reduce attacks on humans, said the blood may attract sharks. "Putting blood or guts into the water is simply not sensible," he told Reuters. "A shark in the vicinity of the beach may come to investigate."Three or four people are attacked every year off San Onofre's coasts, Ralph said. Animal protection officers said they were also investigating cruelty allegations on gophers around the sacrifices, and an official supervisor said they were unacceptable. "A beach is a public place and we can't have animals being sacrificed in front of visitors and children," the beach official told San Clemente's daily news.
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