Video: Australian Anglers Accidentally Catch, Release Tiger Shark
OutdoorHub Reporters 12.10.13
A group of anglers fishing in Western Australia unexpectedly hooked a tiger shark last Wednesday, eventually freeing the fish after a quick struggle. According to PerthNow, the incident happened on Maud’s Landing in Coral Bay.
After reeling the shark onto the beach, the anglers placed a towel on the shark to prevent it from biting, and used pliers to remove the hook. As water swept in, the shark was led back to the ocean by its tail and safely escaped the beach to applause from the crowd.
You can see the video of the release below:
Although the shark appears fairly calm throughout the entire ordeal, it must be noted that the anglers were taking a considerable risk in coming so close to the animal. Tiger sharks are widely regarded as one of the most dangerous of its kind to humans, coming only after the great white shark in number of recorded attacks. The shark’s propensity to reside in shallow waters only adds to their threat to humans. While unprovoked attacks are rare, some brushes with tiger sharks have proven fatal in the past.
Even as the anglers are being praised for releasing the tiger shark, surfers and beachgoers are demanding a cull of dangerous sharks off the western coast of Australia. Last month the local surfing community suffered a shock when surfer Chris Boyd died after a fatal shark attack. UPI reports that in the following days, the attack prompted wildlife agencies to put out an “imminent threat” order to capture the shark involved in the attack. The incident has led many to urge the local government in using drum lines to snare sharks that swim too close to shore.
