uShaka Marine World hoping for a World First

Working together with wildlife documentary company Earth Touch, who are hoping to capture the birth of Ragged tooth shark pups on film we will claim another World First.

One of our Ragged tooth sharks (Carcharias Taurus) is pregnant and has been moved to a specially designed secluded area in the Large Shark Exhibit. This seclusion is designed to offer her newly born pups protection from the bigger sharks and the two enormous Brindlbass that share the exhibit with her.

Staff noticed mating behaviour during October 2010 and in July this year it became obvious that she was pregnant. The gestation period for Raggies is between 9 – 12 months but no-one is quite sure of exactly when the pups will be born.

As not much is known about the Ragged tooth birthing process, having been seldom witnessed and never recorded on film, a film crew from Earth Touch is stationed at the exhibit throughout the day and night hoping to catch the birth on film.

Ragged tooth sharks, affectionately known as Raggies or Grey Nurse Sharks, are protected in many countries around the world as their number have plummeted due to overfishing. These enigmatic creatures are a part of the web of life that we are intimately connected to.

As soon as the much aniticipated moment arrives we will be sure to post some pictures on the website, Twitter and Facebook and share the precious moment with you