“Bizarre and Disturbing.” A Gruesome Discovery in Australia
The body of a five-meter-long great white shark was found on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. The animal washed ashore near Port Lincoln. The most striking detail was that the shark was missing its jaw—experts believe it may have been sold on the black market. They described the entire incident as "bizarre and disturbing."
Matt Read, director of fisheries and aquaculture at South Australia's Department of Primary Industries and Regions, told ABC News that the animal's stomach had been cut open, "presumably to sink it."
Suspicions of deliberate capture of a predatorMarine scientist Kirchen Rough told ABC News that viscera, which could be the shark's liver, were found near the shark's body. The remains of two seals and the head of a tuna were also spotted in the area, which could have come from the shark's stomach contents.
"I think someone caught a shark," Rough said. He speculated that seals and tuna may have been used as bait.
Illegal shark parts tradeAs Adrian Linacre, a wildlife trade specialist, explained, sharks rarely appear in illegal trade. The exceptions are fins and other body parts, which are sometimes sold on the black market as trophies.
Penalties for catching a white shark without a permit in South Australia are severe. A first-time offender can be fined up to AUD 20,000 (approximately €17,000, or over PLN 72,000).
In more serious cases, much higher financial sanctions and even prison sentences are possible.
Read also: A mysterious predator from the depths of the ocean. Its appearance will send shivers down your spine. Read also: A mysterious "virgin birth" of a shark. Scientists are shocked.
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