http://ifolder.ru/20711997
Выдержка:
Between Tuesday, November 30th, 2010, and Sunday, December 5th, 2010, five swimmers were attacked by
shark(s) off the South Sinai Coast, between North of Naama Bay and Ras Nasrani.
The first two victims, two Russian women, were attacked in short succession in the early afternoon on
Tuesday while swimming off the beach. Both suffered multiple bites resulting in serious injuries. Minutes
before one of these attacks, divers photographed a large adult female oceanic whitetip shark and observed
it approaching one of the swimmers on the surface.
The following day, two men (one Russian, one
Ukrainian) were attacked – again in short succession
close to the beach around midday – a few
kilometres north of the area of the first attacks.
One of the victims was bitten once resulting in
minor injuries, the other again suffered multiple
bites and serious injuries. No video or photograph
has been available of this attack or the involved
shark.
As a consequence, all diving, snorkeling and other
watersports activities were suspended in the Sharm
El Sheikh area, with the exception of Ras Mohamed
National Park.
By Thursday afternoon/night, pictures of two
captured (and killed) sharks were published by officials, showing one male shortfin mako shark (Isurus
oxyrinchus) and one female oceanic whitetip shark. Comparing their natural markings and body
proportions, it could be concluded immediately, that the caught oceanic was not the same large female
that was photographed at the site of the first attacks.
This large female was observed and filmed by divers in Ras Za'atar (Ras
Mohamed National Park) on Friday, December 3rd, 2010, around midday. It
showed the typical inquisitive behaviour of this shark species; no aggression
was reported. She could be identified by clear and unusual markings on her
tail (see fig.5).
The information, that the shark implicated in the first 2 attacks was seen in
Ras Mohamed was made available to officials immediately.
On that same day, exploratory dives had been carried out by dive
professionals along the Sharm El Sheikh coast without encountering any other
sharks.
All restrictions on water-activities were lifted and the beaches re-opened on
the morning of Saturday, December 4th, 2010.
On Sunday, December 5th, 2010, around midday, a German swimmer was attacked by a shark in Garden Bay.
She died on site due to the severity of her injuries. A picture taken on the surface during the attack shows
the same large female oceanic whitetip shark that had been observed during Tuesday's attacks, and
Fig. 4: Map of the Southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula (© google
earth)
Fig.5: Caudal (tail) fin of the large
female oceanic whitetip shark
identified around South Sinai since
the start of the attacks.
interacting with divers in Ras Za'atar on Friday. Again, individual markings were used to verify her identity.
All beaches were immediately closed again, and at the time of writing, only dive professionals and
experienced divers have been allowed in the water, with further restrictions in place in the area of the
attacks. These divers have been asked to report back any shark activity in the area.
On Tuesday, December 7th, 2010, around midday, underwater photographs taken in Ras Mohamed by some of
these divers again show the large adult female oceanic whitetip shark (from Tuesday & Friday) interacting
with divers at Yolanda/Shark Reef.
Conclusion:
A single large female oceanic whitetip shark has been observed at the site of 3 attacks on swimmers off
Sharm El Sheikh, with eye-witness reports available for at least two. She is still in the general area, and –
for the last 8 days – followed a pattern of traveling between the area of the attacks North of Naama Bay to
Ras Mohamed National Park and back within 2-3 days (see fig. 4).
The severity of the attacks and the amount of human tissue taken (and potentially swallowed) indicates a
clear deviation of the normal behaviour of an oceanic whitetip shark. Instead of briefly grabbing for testing
or tasting purposes, this female apparently considers human swimmers as a potential food source.
В общем, похоже, одна особь женского пола съехала с катушек
