Zambezi sharks released off KwaZulu Natal coast

Two Zambezi sharks, which had spent many years in captivity, were released last week from uShaka Marine World into the sea off the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

Mark Penning, of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research at uShaka, said the adult sharks had been released eight nautical miles offshore north of Durban, near a river mouth.

Penning did not want to say exactly where, because he was concerned that the public's misunderstanding of sharks might cause unwarranted fears of an attack.

Penning said that because of their size and maturity, the Zambezi sharks had posed a threat to smaller fish in their tank at the marine park.

"These two sharks formed their own barrier in the tank. I wasn't able to display other exciting species like sandbar sharks, tiger sharks and the like - brought in when young - because the Zambezi sharks do what they do naturally: they'd view these smaller sharks as prey and flatten them."

Penning said that the sharks, weighing 160kg and 140kg, had been tagged before their release, which was the normal procedure.

Penning dismissed as "absurd" concerns that the sharks may be psychologically damaged from spending so many years in tanks.

He said seven external marine specialists had been consulted, together with in-house specialists, and no reasons were found why the sharks should not be reintroduced to the wild.

"Our first concern was that the sharks would survive and wouldn't pose a threat," Penning said.

"We wouldn't have let them go otherwise. The chances of these attacking anyone are as remote as a meteor being deflected off a space-craft, entering the Earth's atmosphere and hitting me on the head," said Penning.

He said that they had located a translocation spot that would suit the sharks. They would have plenty of food, and would enjoy fresh water and sea water environments. There were also plenty of reefs that would provide food and security.

Source: http://www.iol.co.za