Egypt shark attack: Conflicting capture claims
A man holds the shark which was identified by environment ministry officials as the shark which attacked tourists off Sharm el-Sheikh. Photo: 2 December 2010 Egyptian officials produced a picture of the captured shark on Thursday
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There is confusion over whether a shark which attacked four tourists off Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh has been captured.
An oceanic white tip shark injured three Russians and a Ukrainian earlier this week. Nearly all water sports have been halted at the resort.
The Egyptian environment ministry said the shark was now being held at a national marine park in the area.
But diving industry officials argued a different shark was behind the attacks.
One of the victims lost a foot and another an arm in the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday, reports say. One of the tourists is believed to be in a critical condition in hospital in Cairo.
Sharm el-Sheikh is one of the most popular areas in the world for diving, so a decision to suspend water sports there would not have been taken lightly, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says.
Highly unusual attack
The Egyptian environment ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the shark had been captured and was now being held at the Ras Mohamed marine park.
But officials from the country's diving industry said they had photos of the shark responsible for the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday - and it was not the same one.
A search is still continuing, with boats and divers being deployed.
Officials said they planned to release the shark into the open sea after capturing it.
It is highly unusual for oceanic white tip sharks to attack humans, particularly this close to shore, our correspondent says.
Only nine such attacks have ever been recorded worldwide.
An expert from a shark trust in Britain suggested it might have been disturbed by illegal fishing, leading it to act in such an aggressive manner.
BBC News - Egypt shark attack: Conflicting capture claims
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Jaws in Egypt?
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07-12-10, 09:24DoozerJaws in Egypt?
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07-12-10, 09:45anon361
I very much doubt they captured the actual shark, smells like a PR stunt to me to calm the restless tourists..
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07-12-10, 09:47Doozer
Just like Amity Island in Jaws
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07-12-10, 10:58Lucy Chambers
The are thousands of species of shark. The ones I saw on the news were definately Mako sharks, nothing at all to do with the White Tip. It is literally like looking for a needle in a haystack, and this was bound to happen when you have idiotic humans dumping food into the water so they could see all the pretty fish feed.
I have been to the hyatt resort. They float a plastic dock far out into the centre of the reef. The fish have learnt that the dock equals food. The sharks have learnt where to find food. -
07-12-10, 11:48Doozer
Thats the thing Lucy.
They have learned where to get the food.
Where there are an abundence of fish there will be sharks too especailly around reefs etc
If it was a Mako attack I doubt the guys would have survied -
07-12-10, 11:53Nicole
I wouldnt like to find myself in water where might be a shark not metion this one!!!!!!http://www.stardusttrailers.com/gall...917)jaws_1.jpg. Brrrrrrr
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07-12-10, 11:55DoozerWouldnt mind that oneQuote:
Originally Posted by Nicole
Its fake
Seriously teh White Shark isnt as viscious as the Mako, Tiger or Bull sharks so chances are if you were in the water with it you wouldnt be attacked -
07-12-10, 12:00benindont think i would risk it all the same lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
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07-12-10, 12:14NicoleQuote:
Originally Posted by benin
Agree with benny , I know shark from jaws were fake daaaaa but what i wanted to picture is fear I would fell walkin in water where shark might be....once again brrrrr -
07-12-10, 12:15magicalman9357Don't like the look of that one at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
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07-12-10, 12:15Doozer
Once again Nikky most sharks wont attack you. They know your not part of their diet
Most attacks are curiousity bites -
07-12-10, 12:55NicoleQuote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
Im taking you to Egypt with me, you will go first to water and check if area is safe. ;) -
07-12-10, 13:17DoozerIv already been but OK we can goQuote:
Originally Posted by Nicole
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07-12-10, 14:14Lucy Chambers
Most sharks are peaceful. I have seen hundreds diving, white tips, hammerheads, tiger and bull. By far the most vicious are Mako. Bit the majority of bites are where the shark mistakes a surfer or snorkeller for a seal. I wouldn't worry too much, they have a few attacks most summer months in South Africa.
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07-12-10, 14:20DoozerI wouldnt say that the Mako is by far the most vicous. Especailly next to the tiger sharkQuote:
Originally Posted by lucy chambers
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07-12-10, 14:23Lucy ChambersThe tiger shark is rarely found in shallow waters. Mako love shallow warm water- I think perhaps you are more likely to meet one. I am not overly keen on Hammerheads either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
Not to worry though, no one ever mentions the Lion Fish. Far more people die when stung by those :D -
07-12-10, 14:26Doozer
Still on an aggression level they would be very similar to Makos.
Bulls are found in very shallow waters/ rivers/estuaries. Only shark that live in both sea and freshwater
and they can be very very agressive. Highest level of testosterone found in any animal is in the Bull shark (Yes I realsie that Sharks are fish and not animals- point still stands) -
07-12-10, 14:41Lucy ChambersSo which would you prefer to meet?Quote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
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07-12-10, 14:47Doozer
neither in open water
Am how about teh basking shark
feel pretty safe with them -
07-12-10, 15:01dannyboy10
BE AFRAID..BE VERY AFRAID!!!!!!
http://words.brittina.net/wp-content.../cat-shark.jpg -
07-12-10, 15:06Lucy ChambersI don't think they have any teeth. So yes, I agree. But I personally think that killing every shark in a fifty mile radius of sharm is a joke.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
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07-12-10, 15:07Doozer
Yeah they dont hence I would swim with them
as for killing them its a joke alright
especailly since most of them are on the endangered species list. -
07-12-10, 15:10samlad
I believe that the Chinese kill sharks to make shark fin soup, the problem being that the shark part of the dish does not actually do anything to enhance the taste; it's purely for decorative reasons.
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07-12-10, 15:12Doozer
Its the Japaneese
They catch them cut the dorsal fin off and dump teh dying shark back into the sea
Shark blood has been found to contain cancer curing agents so expect a 'few' to be caught for research purposes -
07-12-10, 15:13samladI imagine that would be 'research' in very big inverted commas :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
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07-12-10, 15:14DoozerT'would indeedQuote:
Originally Posted by samlad
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07-12-10, 16:23DoozerThemselves?:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by ParisB