Fresh appeal to find head of rare smalltooth sand tiger shark washed up on Lepe beach
A FRESH appeal has been made to find the head of a shark that washed up dead on Lepe beach in the New Forest.
As reported in the A&T, the discovery of the “extremely rare” smalltooth sand tiger shark made national headlines.
It was found on 18th March but soon had its head, dorsal fin and tail cut off by suspected trophy-hunters.
Local TV historian Dan Snow led an appeal to recover the parts of scientific study, which has now been repeated by Tim Ferrero, senior marine biologist from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Mr Ferrero said: “It's an unusual event for this shark to be found here because it's not a very common species in the first place and records normally don't extend beyond the northern limits of the Bay of Biscay.
“It really would be so useful if the head could be returned so that a proper autopsy could be performed to confirm the species.
"There may be other clues to the cause of death, which could be determined from the remaining body, for example, starvation, disease or parasites, and we know that some other sharks do eat marine plastics and other litter."
He added: “Marine animals do sometimes get lost and swim or drift out of their usual ranges, and illness or injury can be a reason why.
"Because the species isn't very common in the first place, it’s impossible to say if this is the first time it's ever happened in the UK, because people may simply not have discovered a previous stranding.
“Global warming through climate change is affecting our oceans and currents as well, which may also give a clue as to why this shark was so far off course.”
It has also emerged that some of the shark's internal organs were also missing– but were later recovered.
Scientist Rob Deaville, from the Zoological Society of London which wants to inspect the shark's head, said the organs "have now been recovered, albeit damaged”.
Samples taken from the liver, skin and muscle are being examined for contaminants while its stomach is being analysed for diet and microplastics evidence.
