Giant squid found on Paphos beach

Beachgoers in Paphos got more than they bargained for this week after a giant squid was found washed up on the shore near the lighthouse.

The unusual discovery was made by a passerby out for a walk, who stumbled across the motionless creature on the sand and quickly shared photos to a social media group.

To give a sense of scale, the person placed their foot – size 38 – next to the squid, highlighting just how large the animal was.

The images quickly made waves on social media, with many users stunned by the size of the creature and others joking that this was Cyprus’ Loch Ness monster whilst some exchanged scientific trivia.

While sightings like this are rare along Cyprus’ coastline, the island’s waters are home to a wide range of marine life, and unusual strandings do occasionally occur.

Such incidents are often linked to natural causes, disorientation, or environmental factors.

However the discovery also comes amid growing awareness around marine protection. Earlier this year, stricter rules were introduced in Cyprus to safeguard marine species, with fines of up to €20,000 and possible imprisonment of up to one year for offences involving protected marine species.