The male shark was turned loose because it had begun swimming erratically in the aquarium's one-million-gallon main exhibit tank. It seemed to be fine as it swam to freedom after being transported to an area off Goleta, scientists said, but data retrieved from an electronic tracking tag recovered Sunday revealed that the 4-foot, 10-inch shark died soon after its release.The tag was designed to pop free if there were no movements after 96 hours, and that's what happened in this case.
"This is a very difficult day for all of us, and for everyone who saw and cared about this animal," said Jon Hoech, the aquarium's director of husbandry. "Based on the shark's behavior and condition prior to release, we had every confidence that he'd do well back in the wild. Unfortunately, that's not how things turned out. We're surprised and saddened by the outcome."
The image at top right and is of the shark in captivity. The video shows the shark a day before its release.
The shark was the sixth kept and ultimately released as part of a program that is controversial because some believe that profit is the primary motive for keeping a great white in captivity. The Central California aquarium is the world's only facility to have kept white sharks for extended periods. Millions have visited the facility specifically to view a captive white shark.
The program has been defended as a means of helping to change people's perspectives about white sharks, and teaching visitors to the aquarium about the apex predators' importance to marine ecosystems. The capture program is part of a broader tag-and-release program involving juvenile white sharks off Southern California, in an attempt to learn more about their movements and habits. (White sharks are protected off California but the aquarium works under special permits.)
All but one of the previous five sharks placed in captivity and eventually released survived at least beyond the life of their tags. One of those sharks, however, died four months after its release, after being caught in a fishing net off Baja California, Mexico.
Another of the sharks was released after only 11 days because it did not adapt well inside the exhibit space.
The predators are monitored very carefully by aquarium staff. However, the death of the latest captive shark is sure to inspire more criticism of the program.
Hoech said Wednesday that all procedures and protocols will be reviewed in the wake of this revelation.
"Our animal care staff is unrivaled in its knowledge of young great white sharks," said Jim Hekkers, the aquarium's managing director. "I'm proud of the passion and dedication they demonstrate each day. This is a difficult time for all of us."
Photo is courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Tyson Rininger
9 Comments
1-9 of 9
Posted by dee pajeezy November 3, 2011 12:45pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Hope PETA is happy, this is what they want to happen to all the aquatic life at Sea World....
Reply by kevin madsen November 3, 2011 01:07pm PDTReport Abuse
Sorry I could not post on your whale story any other way.
First off, a humpback is a baleen whale which cannot "shallow" anything larger than small fish. Plus they do not have teeth. So the situation is that the whale could have monthed the gal but not much more and I am sure any such thing would be an accident. Sperm whales do have teeth a different matter.
Posted by billnetter November 3, 2011 01:30pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
The only way we are ever going to learn more about this species is to view them in this type of enclosure. We should be happy that we have somewhere like this where aquarium staff can witness and learn more about sharks and other sea creatures. Sure, it is unfortunate that this shark eventually died, but no one can even say exactly for sure how the shark perished, and if being captive was the cause of death. At least the aquarium staff is trying to learn more about how sharks live and not just cutting off their fins and letting them drown when dumped overboard after fin removal. And if the aquarium can make some money from people wanting to see the sharks, well then, GREAT! That means more research dollars, better scientific hardware, and all because people looked at a captive shark. It sounds like in the past, if and when any shark has started to show signs of swimming erratically or anything out of the ordinary, they were released as soon as possible anyways. With any type of study, then can be and are deaths associated with those studies. That is how we learn. Instead of finding the negative in a study like this, why not look at the good that will eventually come from this. The more that people start to learn about our ecosystem, the better off we as Humans will be for thousands of years to come. And the better off our planet will be as the rest of the world also learns all about this kind of information!
Reply by xan November 4, 2011 04:58am PDTReport Abuse
I totally agree with this stand, if we did things to try and pay for them without using tax dollars perhaps we wouldn't be so far in debt.
Pay for parks with park passes ect.
I think as the aquarium does it provides high quality trained staff to monitor and work with the animal. Hopefully there will be a inquiry as to why the shark died, however unless a autopsy is done that isnt totally a viable option.
Good luck and I hope you come out of it still being able to study and knowing how it can not happen to any others.
As to the person below (kw5902) if we would not do research as this we would have never done other great things and understood things even as wonderful as the galaxys and such. research is a nessesity to our survival.
Posted by kw5902 November 3, 2011 01:50pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Studying Great White sharks, eh? Seems like the study should be revealing that studying Great White sharks is one of the greatest threats to their existence. Leave them alone. This shark probably would be alive had it not been put into captivity. So, the best decision is to let it go after it was swimming erratically? So, the best thing is to put it back into the wild after weakening the shark. It can't defend itself nor probably hunt for food if it's weak. Pure genius. Leave the sharks alone.
Now another example of how idiots need to be protected from themselves. These people getting that close to the whales are endangering the whales. These people should be arrested. If the whale should accidentally swallow a person (Darwinism at it's best), the whale could be fatally injured by such a large object as a human body, a kayak or surfboard.
No, I'm not a member of PETA. I just think people should have enough common sense to not cause harm to these animals in the name of science or entertainment.
Posted by arhill22 November 4, 2011 01:23am PDTReply | Report Abuse
Millions of sharks are killed each year for sport, as by-catch, and for shark fin soup. In displaying these majestic creatures and giving them a "voice", the aquarium can potentially have a major impact on demand for shark-related products. Add in the scientific value of the research that these dedicated people perform, and the value more than makes up for any occasional fatality that might occur.
If you ever go to the aquarium, you will find that the employees and volunteers are extraordinarily dedicated to the animals under their care, and take every precaution possible to protect and preserve the animals and the environment both inside and outside the aquarium. If captivity contributed to the death of this shark, it is only because these sharks are not well understood. The only solution is to study them in greater depth, which is much more easily done in a controlled environment. If we innocently harmed this animal in a controlled environment, just imagine what unfettered human activity is doing to sharks in the wild.
Posted by iben fahrteen November 4, 2011 12:24pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
am i supposed to be upset that a great white shark died? i guess i need to get my morals in check- because i am not!
Posted by whyzup November 4, 2011 01:14pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
Even Great Whites are in danger of becoming prey if something is perceived being wrong with them, or they are in strange territory.
Posted by glenn hopkins November 5, 2011 02:36am PDTReply | Report Abuse
Anyone think this is a little strange, kind of like letting ted bundy out of prison. Great Whites are natural born killers, and thier survival is not essential to nature. There are more than enough other species who could take up the slack if the species became extinct, without constituting such a serious threat to swimmers. I would rather see great white stuffed and mounted, not alive in a tank, and if that shark is swimming near me in the water, I would kill it and to blazes with Peta and the state of california. I value my life more than a killer fish.
Reply by william russell November 5, 2011 07:36am PDTReport Abuse
You simpleton, To a Great White Shark you taste like shiite, Bull Sharks, Makos and Tigers are the real preditors that put humans in the food chain. Please do the planet a favor, go swimming with a pound of ground round in your pocket.
Reply by william russell November 5, 2011 07:36am PDTReport Abuse
You simpleton, To a Great White Shark you taste like shiite, Bull Sharks, Makos and Tigers are the real preditors that put humans in the food chain. Please do the planet a favor, go swimming with a pound of ground round in your pocket.
Reply by mac4723 November 5, 2011 07:45pm PDTReport Abuse
Great Whites are not the killers Hollywood makes them out to be. Their favorite meal is fur seals. If you want to pick on a shark, more shark attacks are by Bull sharks than Makos, Tigers and Great Whites put together.
Reply by mac4723 November 5, 2011 07:45pm PDTReport Abuse
Great Whites are not the killers Hollywood makes them out to be. Their favorite meal is fur seals. If you want to pick on a shark, more shark attacks are by Bull sharks than Makos, Tigers and Great Whites put together.
Posted by justahorsedoctor November 5, 2011 08:31pm PDTReply | Report Abuse
I thought these message boards that come with news articles were for the purpose of just taking a little break, jumping in and chatting a little bit then running on your way, all in a very sort of innocent little recreational past time, thereby giving any and all a second to think of something else other than work for a change, very often while obtaining a little more education in the process? Well, Mr. William Russell, aren't you the gentleman here?
Mr. Hopkins' only offense was simply one of being uninformed, while having the AUDACITY to want to PROTECT HIS LIFE in the water I might add, but he most certainly did NOT launch a personal attack with his post. You, however, are simply outrageously rude AND mean, hurling a personal attack with a death wish in it no less (!) on someone you don't even KNOW? Guess I DARE NOT exercise my freedom of speech (howEVER uninformed) by penning a simple little reply to a much larger story with YOU around or I just might be NEXT on your list! I can't imagine HOW MUCH WORSE you are to people you DO know? You, Mr. Russell, are more of a predator than ANY shark!
Posted by zerojustice November 6, 2011 01:36am PDTReply | Report Abuse
We need to leave nature the eff alone. Stop putting them in cages, aquariums, labs & killing them for so-called sport. If research is so eff-ing critical, then study them in their own environment -- but I think they should be left completely alone.
Add a Comment