Shark performs caesarean section

Visitors to a New Zealand oceanarium watched in astonishment when one shark tore a chunk out of another’s stomach.  But they were even more astonished when four baby sharks tumbled out of the gaping wound.

Staff at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World, in Auckland, had no idea the shark was pregnant until visitors came running to tell them about the impromptu caesarean section.  Initially skeptical, they found the mother with a large cut and four little sharks swimming around.

The oceanarium’s aquarist, Fiona Davies, said it was not uncommon for sharks to chomp on each other, even in the wild.  But she had never heard of an incident like this.

The relationship of the other shark to the mother was unknown, but Davies praised its actions, saying the unusual deliver had probably saved the babies’ lives.

Four more babies were found inside the female when mother and young were removed to a nursery tank.  The eight young sharks are now on show and will eventually be released into the wild.

The Independent

 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Shark Bite C-Section: Pups Spill Out Of Wound (news.sky.com)