Scientists release great white shark

[pinniped]

Scientists release great white shark
Youngster not eating, more research needed

Sunday, August 3, 2003

Chuck Squatriglia, Chronicle Staff Writer

A young great white shark captured near the Channel Islands and held in a giant offshore pen will be released this week instead of returning with scientists to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The aquarium had hoped to become the first in the world to display one of the fearsome predators, but researchers decided Saturday that they had insufficient time before their expedition ends Friday to ensure that the animal would survive in captivity.

"There are a number of things we need to learn before we try to bring a shark back to Monterey," said aquarium spokesman Ken Peterson. "We're not going to repeat past patterns that didn't work."

Displaying one of the rare sharks has long been the "holy grail" of aquarists, but none of the creatures has survived more than three weeks in captivity.

more:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/08/03/BA234447.DTL

They will be back next summer.

[oneighty]

1. Drat!

Just when I thought it safe to go back into the water!

180

[Athame]

2. Jeez! the Channel Islands are just out my back door

My son surfs in the waters out there. And I had not even heard of this catch. Great whites not that uncommon, but still a bit unnerving. I am glad they are letting it go, though. Aquariums and zoos seem more and more barbaric to me.
:thumbsdown:

[The Stranger]

3. Pretty fucking sad

when the "holy grail" is to capture an animal and make it swim around in your tank.

Ahab lives again. Maybe they'll suffer his fate as well.

[prankster]

5. the Monterey Bay Aquarium is hardly barbaric

It is one of the leading marine research and education institutions in this country. Have you seen their wallet sized seafood guides to what fish to eat and which to avoid based on conservation issues?

In any event, the prevailing attitude in this country, thanks in part to the sensationalism of the media (remember "Shark Summer"), is that the only good shark is a dead shark. Little is known about the great white, and the opportunity to study one in depth would be tremendous. Plus, it would give folks a chance to see and learn about this important predator and understand its role in the marine ecosystems.

For in the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.

Baba Dioum, Senagalese ecologist (rough paraphrase).

Cheers,

Prankster

[Pert_UK]

4. THE FOOLS! Haven't they seen Deep Blue Sea????

That shark will kill us in our beds!

Bloody hell, I wish I hadn't seen that steaming pile of crap......talk about a shockingly bad film!

P.

[DS1]

6. You're just showing your liberal elitism

When the downtrodden suddenly gets smart and an education he turns against "the man" while trying to get ahead in life. You can't handle that because smart sharks threaten your existence, so you want to keep them dumb and voting for the unions that pay you oh so handsomely....

:evilgrin:

[proud patriot]

7. Thank goodness

I'm glad they released the shark .