Shark Zone News & Updates

Seven Gilled Cow Shark

One of the things I love about Cape Town and especially about diving in Cape Town, is that you never know what you will see next, a little like the Cape Town LiveIt-LoveIt newsletter really! Look what popped up yesterday...

Read more: Cow Shark in False Bay

Tonic Immobility

Tonic immobility is a natural state of “death-like” paralysis that animals enter, usually when faced with a deadly threat. It is believed to be an attempt in self preservation but some scientists believe it is related to mating in certain animals, like the shark.

Tonic immobility in a shark is achieved in a different way. When appropriately stroking the shark’s nose it reacts by falling into a state of what appears to be pleasurable relaxation. Some sharks, such as lemon and reef sharks, can be placed into this type of immobility and remain in a state of paralysis for an average of fifteen minutes before full recovery.

Sharks are known to have extraordinary powers of perception; their eyesight is excellent, they can feel vibrations along the lateral line that runs the whole length of their body, and they have unusual sense organs on their noses, known as the ampullae of Lorenzini. This cluster of sensory pits around their snouts is connected directly to the brain and is able to sense electromagnetic fields.

Read more: Tonic Immobility

Be on the look-out for Great Whites

Just 24 hours after a shark warning, a bather has gone missing from Fish Hoek beach.

Cape Town Disaster Management issued a statement yesterday to be on the lookout for great white sharks which traditionally cruise this stretch of the coast at this time of year.

"The appearance of white sharks is normal during peak summer months in Cape Town near in-shore areas, as these sharks are known to hunt and feed [on local seals] along this stretch of coastline " spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said on Tuesday.

Read more after the jump ....

Read more: Be on the look-out for sharks

Seasons Greetings

The Shark Zone team would like to wish you all an awesome festive season. Eat, drink, be merry and stay safe.

{Don't forget we do gift vouchers for those last minute gifts to stuff into a loved ones stocking}

We are happy to report that the Save our Seas Foundation Wavescapes Surf Art exhibition auction was a party to be remembered!

The event, which also served as the launch of the Wavescapes Surf Film Festival, aimed to raise R100,000 for ocean charities such as the NSRI and Shark Spotters this year, but ended up over-shooting the mark by a whopping R70,000.

Read more: Seasons Greetings