  The giant flares of soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) have long been proposed
to contribute to at least a subsample of the observed short gamma-ray bursts
(GRBs). In this paper, we perform a comprehensive analysis of the high-energy
data of the recent bright short GRB 200415A, which was located close to the
Sculptor galaxy. Our results suggest that a magnetar giant flare provides the
most natural explanation for most observational properties of GRB 200415A,
including its location, temporal and spectral features, energy, statistical
correlations, and high-energy emissions. On the other hand, the compact star
merger GRB model is found to have difficulty reproducing such an event in a
nearby distance. Future detections and follow-up observations of similar events
are essential to firmly establish the connection between SGR giant flares and a
subsample of nearby short GRBs.

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena