A rare special kind of shark which is called megamouth shark was found in East Africa for the first time. It was seen in Zanzibar where it was sold after being caught and killed. This was only the sixth time a megamouth shark was found near Africa.
The megamouth shark is a big shark with a huge mouth. It was first found in 1976 when it got stuck in a navy boat’s chain in Hawaii Island. Since then, less than 280 megamouth sharks have been seen worldwide. We don’t have much information about the megamouth shark.
Megamouth sharks can grow up to 7 meters long, which is bigger than a great white shark. But most of them are smaller, about 5.5 meters long. They are considered as gentle sharks with no big, sharp teeth. They eat plankton, not other fish.
This megamouth shark was caught by a small fishing boat in Zanzibar. Then it was sold for about $17. It’s sad to see pictures of the dead shark, but it’s also important for science study. This was the first time a megamouth shark was found on the East Coast of Africa.
Even though megamouth sharks are rare, they’re not in danger of disappearing. They’re found all over the world, so there are probably more of them than we know. As we know they don’t get caught by fishing boats very often. They might live in places where fishing boats don’t go.
If someone finds a megamouth shark, they should tell people who take care of nature or fish. They can also tell the Wildlife Conservation Society or the nearest aquarium. That way our scientists can learn more information about these amazing creatures.
