© Chris Gorman / Barcroft Media
A pregnant shark bitten by another shark in an aquarium stunned visitors when it gave birth to several pups through the open wound in its side.
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The gaping gash acted like a caesarean section, releasing four shark pups into the tank.
Shocked visitors saw the injured School Shark and informed staff that they could see “objects floating from the shark’s side.”
Workers at the aquarium in New Zealand, removed four shark pups from the water and found another four still inside her.
Shivani Singh, 35, who witnessed the unusual birth, said: “The bite mark was half way along the shark on her right side, stretching almost from the top to the bottom of her body.
© Chris Gorman / Barcroft Media
“The wound looked very deep and performed like a C-section. The sharks were born out of her side, through the wound.
“Three or four baby sharks wiggled out of the side and were floating in the tank. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
The married mum of three, on holiday from Victoria, Australia, added: “By the time I realised what was happening and I picked up my jaw from the ground, another visitor to the aquarium had alerted a staff member.”
Andrew Christie, a marine biologist at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World, in Auckland, New Zealand, said the birth was unique.
© Chris Gorman / Barcroft Media
He said: “Incredibly the pups emerged, premature but healthy, from a gouge their School shark mother sustained when a Broadnose Sevengill shark took some of its normal seasonal aggression out on her.”
Fiona Davies, spokesman for the aquarium, added: “We removed four shark pups from the tank to prevent stingrays and other sharks from eating them. When staff moved the mother, they discovered a further four sharks inside her.
She added: “The mother’s wound was stitched by a vet.
“She’s doing well, but we’re watching her closely as it’s a one-off occurrence. We’re not sure how she’ll do.
“It’s common for sharks to bite each other but I’ve never heard of anything like this.”
Mr Christie said the birth was amazing, and proved to be very lucky.
© Chris Gorman / Barcroft Media
He said: “When the sharks’ mother came to Kelly Tarlton’s after being caught off the coast of New Zealand, no one knew she was pregnant.
“Ironically, the fight their mother got into probably saved these pups’ lives.
“Sharks don’t have maternal instincts and just birth or drop their babies and swim of – leaving them incredibly vulnerable.
“Had she given birth naturally, most likely at night, we probably wouldn’t have got to the pups in time to move them to a safe, predator free area.”
The eight-strong School sharks will now stay in a incubation tank for the next six to eight weeks.
Mr Christie said: “Although the pups were born prematurely, they appear to be fully developed and have already started putting on weight and are growing rapidly. Vet checks have been carried out and all are doing well.”
The mother shark is also said to be doing well. She has been released back into the main tank.
© Chris Gorman / Barcroft Media
A spokesman said: “She has taken food from the divers which is a good sign.
“This is unique and we are taking each day as it comes but it’s a positive step that she is eating.”
The baby sharks will be released into the wild after their incubation period.
Mr Christie said no-one should worry about more sharks being in the water however.
He said: “They are being fed fishes Herring and Mullet because this will give them the best chance of survival in the wild.
“No-one should worry about the logic of actively working to get more healthier sharks into our waters. You need to understand just how small a threat sharks like these represent.
“School sharks represent zero risk to us. These baby sharks have a long list of species waiting to do them harm.
“By keeping them in captivity for a couple of months we’re giving them the best start and the best chance of survivability.”
He added: “We know remarkably little about sharks and even with the head start these little fellas are getting, they still have a long and dangerous road ahead of them before they are anywhere near the top of the food chain.
“We must remember that sharks are now in danger of being wiped out and some experts have predicted that our grandchildren may never have the opportunity to see one.”
Words by Jon Kaila
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