Alor Archipelago: In a shocking turn of events, parts of a woman’s body were found inside a tiger shark’s stomach two weeks after she disappeared during a diving trip in Indonesia. Colleen Monfore, a 68-year-old experienced diver from South Dakota, went missing on September 26th while diving near Pulau Reong, a small island in the Alor Archipelago, known for its stunning scuba diving locations.
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Disappearance During a Dive
Monfore, accompanied by six friends and a tour guide, set out for a diving expedition in central Indonesia. However, she failed to resurface after her dive, prompting an immediate search by rescue teams. Despite being an experienced diver, Monfore vanished without a trace, sparking an intense eight-day search. The operation was eventually called off due to challenging sea conditions and the dwindling hope of finding her alive.
A Fisherman’s Grim Discovery
Two weeks after the search was halted, a fisherman near Timor-Leste made a startling discovery. He had caught a tiger shark that appeared to be in distress. Believing the shark had swallowed plastic or fishing debris, he decided to cut it open to investigate further. Inside, he found the remains of a woman, along with her wetsuit and bathing suit.
“The shark was clearly unwell,” the fisherman told The Sun. “I thought it had swallowed something harmful like plastic or a fishing net. But when I opened it up, I found human remains.”
Cause of Death Questioned
Initial speculation suggested that Monfore might have been attacked and eaten by the shark. However, friends of Monfore have challenged this theory. Kim Sass, one of her close friends, shared a different perspective, suggesting Monfore may have died from a medical issue well before the shark encounter.
“It’s been a terrible two weeks,” Sass wrote on Facebook. “The media is reporting it as a shark attack, but there’s evidence that suggests otherwise.”
Experts have supported this viewpoint. According to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, sharks can take several days to fully digest a meal. During this process, their stomach produces strong acids that can even dissolve metal. This raised doubts about whether the shark attacked Monfore or simply scavenged her remains after her death.
Identifying the Remains
Despite the condition of the remains, Monfore’s body was identified. According to Sass, her fingerprints were intact, and both the U.S. Embassy and local authorities used them to confirm her identity. Sass emphasized that this wouldn’t have been possible if Monfore had been attacked by the shark weeks ago, further supporting the theory that she had already passed away when the shark found her body.
“Colleen’s husband believes she would have been heartbroken to know that a shark died because of her,” Sass added, expressing concern that the incident could contribute to the shark’s negative reputation.
Sharks as Scavengers
Brendon Sing, a shark researcher and founder of Shark Guardian, also weighed in on the situation, explaining that shark attacks on humans are rare. Tiger sharks, in particular, are known to scavenge and are more likely to consume animals that are already dead or injured rather than actively hunt healthy humans.
“Sharks rarely attack and kill an adult human,” Sing stated. “Tiger sharks are scavengers and tend to prey on animals that are weakened or dead.”
