Recently, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust received a call to inform us about a washed up shark in the Franskraal area. Upon arrival our team found a 2.7 m Ragged-tooth shark (Carcharius Taurus). The shark had a stab wound in it's neck, which most likely caused it's death. The death of this shark is unfortunate and if accidentally caught could have been released.

Although this shark was not tagged, many ragged tooth sharks are tagged along the South African coastline as part of a study on this species. Their status in South Africa is considered ‘near-threatened’ but as their population status is not fully known it could in fact be vulnerable or even endangered. Australians will know this species by the name Grey nurse shark.

The ragged tooth shark does surprising well in captivity and can be viewed at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. They have a programme of releasing their sharks after a few years and as they are tagged it has been observed that they adapt well and return to normal migration patterns seen in this species - Read more HERE 

The DICT would like to thank Johan Carinus & Martiens Victor for calling us.

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