Cape Aquarium Shark Swims Free

March 16, 2006

Release from: iafrica.com

A ragged tooth shark was released into the sea near Arniston yesterday, after spending eleven years at the Two Oceans Aquarium at the Cape Town Waterfront.

The release of popular aquarium draw card "Dee" forms part of ongoing conservation efforts to tag sharks so that scientists can study their behaviour from satellite movements.

According to the Cape Times, the shark was transported to Struisbaai where an ultrasonic tag was inserted into the shark's stomach, and indentification and satellite tracking tags were attached to her dorsal fin.

She was then taken in a tank mounted on a dinghy into Arniston bay, where she was released.

The shark is the third of her species to be released as part of the Save our Seas programme, a joint initiative between several conservation and aquarium groups.