7 metre whale shark washes up at Scottburgh : ZIGZAG - Surfing Magazine | South African Surfing forecasts, news, photos and videos



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7 metre whale shark washes up at Scottburgh 10/02/10 ~ By Geremy Cliff - Head of the KZN Sharks Board Research Department . ~

The KZN Sharks Board staff measuring the whale shark that washed up at Scottburgh this morning. There was also a French film crew documenting the unusual experience.

Scientists from the KZN Sharks Board responded to a report of a stranded whale shark on the rocks in front of the caravan park at Scottburgh this morning (Wed, 10 Feb, 2010). Despite some superficial scratches as a result of the being washed over the rocks, the 7m long adolescent male whale shark was in good condition, indicating it had stranded and died overnight. The shark was measured and a number of tissue samples were taken by the Board's research facility. These samples included stomach contents, which was a mass of small shrimp-like organisms about 3-4mm long. Whale sharks are filter feeders sieving these small animals from the water in large volumes and the fact that the shark had a full stomach indicated that it was in a healthy state. Check out the KZN Sharks Board website for more - Click Here