A White Shark biting fish heads used to draw the shark in, outside a cage in False Bay South Africa. Photo: Pieter Visser / Creative Commons
NSRI warning: Great White Shark spotted in Western Cape river
The NSRI spotted a Great White Shark in Keurbooms River, Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday. Scientists suspect the animal may be ill.
A White Shark biting fish heads used to draw the shark in, outside a cage in False Bay South Africa. Photo: Pieter Visser / Creative Commons
A Great White Shark was spotted in the Keurbooms River in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape on Wednesday evening, 18 May, said the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). The public is urged to exercise caution.
SHARK ALERT
NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, Jaco Kruger, said the shark was spotted during a routine exercise by the local duty crew.
The Great White Shark measured approximately 3,5 metres in length. It was seen 300 metres upstream from the Keurbooms River mouth, which is halfway between the mouth and the N2 bridge.
It is unusual for a shark to be in the river itself. Therefore, the NSRI and Bitou Municipality are asking the public to exercise caution along the river and the Plettenberg Bay coastline.
ANIMAL MAY BE ILL
Marine scientists attached to the South African Shark Incident Committee believe the shark may be ill or disorientated, said Kruger.
“But the warning is a precaution to alert the public of the presence of a shark in the Keurbooms River and a reminder that at this time of year sharks are known to feed inshore along the coastline and increased shark activity has been noticed along the Plettenberg Bay coastline,” he added.
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