Latest news with #RobDeaville
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Mysterious' 400-year-old sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters
Did you know the world's most mysterious shark' can be found in British waters? Greenland sharks are the second largest species of carnivorous shark after the great white. Greenland sharks, also known as the "sleeper sharks," are one of the longest-living vertebrate species known, with a lifespan of up to 400 years. While they can be found in deep waters around the UK, humans rarely encounter them and we know little about their life cycle, however, there have been confirmed UK sightings. With only a small handful of Greenland shark strandings previously recorded in the UK, this likely represents the first necropsy ever carried out on the species in this country. Exceptional opportunity to learn more about both the life and death of this deep-water shark. — Rob Deaville (@strandings_man) March 18, 2022 In 2016 a breakthrough was made when researchers at the University of Copenhagen found a way of accurately calculating the lifespan of a Greenland shark. Sometimes referred to as the world's most mysterious shark, footage of Greenland sharks swimming in their natural environment was not captured until 2003. The researchers used a radiocarbon dating technique to examine proteins which were found in the lens of the eyes of twenty-eight Greenland sharks and calculated that the largest shark was between 272 and 512 years old, with its most likely age being 390. This makes Greenland sharks easily the longest-living vertebrate in the world and means they may have to be around 156 years old before they are capable of reproducing. A 100-year-old, 13-foot-long female was found stranded near Cornwall's Newlyn Harbour. She was released back into the sea but was later found dead, sparking its autopsy by the Cornwall Marine Pathology Team. Rob Deaville, project lead, said: 'This unfortunate and extraordinary stranding has allowed us to get an insight into the life and death of a species we know little about. 'Discovering that this shark had meningitis is likely a world first, but the significance of this in terms of any wider stressors is unknown. Recommended reading: 40ft sharks may arrive in the UK as early as next month The types of sharks found in UK waters Great white sharks could migrate to UK waters by next year 'Ultimately, like most marine life, deep-sea species such as Greenland sharks may also be impacted by human pressures on the ocean but there is not enough evidence at this stage to make any connections. 'Huge thanks are owed to the volunteers of Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network and all those who spotted and brought the body to shore. 'This was an exceptional collaborative effort by all involved and was a unique opportunity to learn more about the life of this cryptic and endangered deep-water shark.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Headless' seals wash up on Essex coast
The bodies of multiple seals have washed up on the shores of north Essex, according to reports. The BBC has been told the animals were found at several beach locations in Tendring, as well as one in Felixstowe, Suffolk. According to a post from Tendring Seal Watch, seven seals were found over a period of three days - all of them headless. Several other organisations have told the BBC the exact number of seals was unclear, and the condition of the seals' bodies was most likely due to natural causes. The dead seals were reported at Dovercourt, Holland-on-Sea, Point Clear, Clacton-on-Sea and two at Walton-on-the-Naze. Any dead marine animals found stranded on a beach are handled by the UK Cetacean Strandings investigation Programme (CSIP). Its project manager Rob Deaville, from the Zoological Society of London, said: "It is possible that some reports are double strandings of the same individual, but there does appear to be at least three to four individuals, some of which are missing their heads". Mr Deaville said photos of the bodies suggested the damage was "most likely natural in origin" and could have been related to predators or scavenging. "At this stage, there is no conclusive evidence that the damage is manmade in nature," Mr Deaville told the BBC. "As context, the CSIP receives numerous reports of headless seals each year around the UK, none of which appear to be related to direct human impacts," he added. Tendring District Council – which is responsible for removing dead animals from its beaches – told the BBC it received four reports of a headless seal being washed up on its beaches. "Our officers have checked the locations reported to us, and only one seal was found in situ on 21 February – near Walton's Eastcliff, which was due to be removed on Friday afternoon," a spokesperson for the council said. "It is understood that due to the weight of a seal's head, and its neck being the weakest part of their body, carcasses can frequently be washed up headless, especially if there have been rough seas," they added. The council also explained that it was "not always a simple matter" to remove a dead animal from a beach, depending on its size, state of decomposition, health and safety risks and the potential need for machinery to help move the animal and dispose of it. Any dead strandings on beaches should be reported to the CSIP on 0800 652 0333, whilst any live stranded animals should be reported to the RSPCA or the British Divers Marine Life Rescue. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Bird flu in seals a first at National Trust site Bird flu detected in dead grey seals on coast UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme British Divers Marine Life Rescue RSPCA
