Local conservationists have made headlines around the world this week with the tagging of a world record Zambezi (aka Bull) shark in the Breede River.
On a recent river trip down the Breede River with my family, many jokes were made about looking out for crocodiles and sharks but it was all in good fun and none of us feared any such creatures, just the hectic mosquitoes and midges that were in full force after the recent floods.
However the picture of a massive Zambezi shark, found on the Breede River by an expedition from the South African Shark Conservancy (SASC), in this morning’s newspapers really stopped me in my tracks. (note: this image here is not the shark in question, but it is an example of a Zambezi shark)
This fine specimen – now named Nyami Nyami (after the Zambezi river god, although it sounds to me like Yummy Yummy) was tagged by SASC members who went on a shark-hunt this month in order to confirm reports of shark sightings in the Breede. They were accompanied by members of Marine and Coastal Management, the Lower Breede River Conservancy and a marine biologist from Marine Dynamics.
They finally found the enormous fish around 5.5km upstream from the river mouth.
The shark appears to be pregnant. SASC say this could mean that the Breede is a breeding ground for Zambezi sharks.
She is 4 metres in length – by far the largest known specimen of the breed to date – that’s one BIG mama.
For the fascinating full story, and pics, go to the SASC webpage.
The Zambezi shark is, according to reports in today's paper, believed to be the most dangerous of all sharks, to humans. However SACS says that there have never been any reports of a shark attack in the Breede even though it appears that this latest specimen resides in the area.
Even so, think next time I go river rafting I may well choose the Orange!
Image: Wikimedia Commons. Some rights reserved.
