Photos: MBA's Great White Shark's Snout Ground to a Pulp

[jeff_dudas]

before:


after six months at the Monterey Bay Aquarium:






UnderwaterTimes.com has obtained disturbing photos of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's great white shark that detail shocking damage to the shark’s nose. It is clear from the pictures that the shark's nose has been ground down into a blunt end, with an open wound clearly visible. The damage is likely caused from the shark bumping into the sides of the aquarium.

The shark made news earlier in the week when it was reported that it had attacked and killed two other sharks at the aquarium. The great white attacked its first victim -- a soupfin shark -- on Feb. 23, biting a two-foot chunk out of its tail. It struck again on March 7 and left a six-inch gouge in another soupfin. Both died.

“Fish have been ignored as feelingless things," said Sean Van Sommerman, executive director of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation, which tags great whites off California's coast.

"If you had a zoo display whereby the exhibited animals began to prey upon other exhibited, trapped animals, there would be an ethics question."

The attacks were captured on video, but after reviewing the footage, the aquarium's marine biologists are still not certain what prompted the attacks.

With the release of these pictures, important questions about the future of the shark at the aquarium should be raised. However, the aquarium does not have immediate plans to release the shark back into the wild. Dr. Randy Kochevar, the aquarium's science communications manager, said it is serving an important role in promoting conservation and demystifying the species.

Both Van Sommeran and Phillips noted that attendance, and possibly revenues, have increased at the aquarium since the shark's captivity. Kochevar confirmed that attendance has increased by 30 percent over the past several months.

"We believe that the very best thing we can do for sharks in general, for white sharks in particular, in order to ensure their conservation in the wild, is to bring people face to face with them," he said.

http://www.mbayaq.org/

Julie Packard, Executive Director and Vice Chairman of the aquarium's Board of Trustees, ‘Ocean Hero’ http://www.mbayaq.org/aa/timelineBrowser.asp?tf=102
E-mail: jpackard@mbayaq.org

Dr. Randy Kochevar, Science and Communications Manager
E-mail: rkochevar@mbayaq.org

Ken Peterson, Public Relations Manager
kpeterson@mbayaq.org

[Anonymous]

It looks terrible, great whites are not a species for captivity. It would be interested to hear what they have learnt at the aquarium from keeping the shark for this length of time.

[oceanboy7]

We all knew this would happen. There are things in this world that mankind simply cannot possess, or contain. This shark should be set free. Great Whites travel up to fifty miles per day. One million gallons is nothing. She obviously thinks she can break out, and when she started attacking the Soup-fins, they should have understood that to mean she was getting stressed. Now they have to worry about infection, and I will bet it won't be long until she quits eating as well. So do they stabilize her first, and then turn her loose, or just turn her loose? Realizing that the stress of her being there still could cause her to damage herself worse? Those are the only two options they should consider.

I am going down to see her on Monday, by train from Washington State. I am also going to South Africa to do a documentary on sustainable, non-consumptive ecotourism. I understand why they did keep her for a time, and my hats off to them, and all their hard work. I get what they were trying to do, and I see the value in connecting people to this beautiful predator, but its time to let her go, and the whole world should demand it. I know they have a 30 % increase in tourist dollars, but its not worth taking a chance on loosing her life. If they do, the aquariums reputation will be discredited in a way I know I will never be able to forgive. I think that they are smarter than that, but we will see. I would like to know why there still is no comment about this on the Aquariums Web Site?

Jeff Branham
Olympia WA
_________________
Jeffery

[kenpeterson]

Many people have contacted us at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to express concern about the rostrum abrasions observed in the photographs posted here, and the impact they may be having on the health of the white shark at the aquarium.

Our staff veterinarian and our team of husbandry biologists have been observing the abrasions and monitoring the shark’s condition continually since she came on exhibit last September. They are totally committed to assuring that the shark remains in good health until we return her to the wild. They do not share the sense of alarm.

While the abrasions aren’t pretty, from direct observations our expert team is convinced that the abrasions are healing; a few may be in stable condition. (All of the abrasions she received before arrival at the aquarium have fully healed.) They are relying not just on what they can see from the surface, but on observations made while diving in the exhibit, from photographs taken underwater by our staff photographer, and on observations of her swimming and feeding behavior. With the exception of our veterinarian, all of the folks on the white shark team are marine biologists who are drawing on years – and in some cases decades – of experience working with sharks and rays in an aquarium setting.

It’s worth noting that white sharks in the wild also show signs of injury and scarring. They aren’t pristine animals—but they’re healthy. We also have years of experience releasing sharks with similar rostrum injuries. One large sevengill shark swam more than 200 miles from her release point and survived more than two years in the wild before she was caught by a sport angler. When caught, her rostrum injuries had healed and scarred over.

At the aquarium, the white shark continues to feed almost daily, to swim comfortably in the Outer Bay exhibit, and to grow.

We’ve always used two key criteria to determine when she’ll be returned to the wild: First, if her health begins to decline in ways that we believe would threaten her ability to survive in the wild after release; and, second, when she grows large enough to make it a challenge to remove her from the exhibit and transport her for release.

At this point, her health remains good. We’re continuing to plan for her release, which we believe will take place in a matter of months rather than years. At release, she’ll be fitted with a data tag so we can learn how well she does after return to the wild.

As a side note, we continue to use every opportunity we can to raise awareness among our visitors about the threats facing white sharks – indeed all sharks – worldwide. And we continue to conduct and support conservation field research aimed at assuring a future with white sharks in the wild. Just today (March 18) our board of directors approved another $500,000 for multi-year field conservation studies of white sharks in southern California and Baja California. That brings to $840,000 the total amount that we, as a non-profit organization, have committed to tagging and other field research projects.

Thanks to all for your interest and concern.

[Sean R. Van Sommeran]

Ken Peterson wrote:
> Many people have contacted us at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to express
> concerns about the rostrum abrasions they’ve observed in online photographs
> or in person, and the impact they may be having on the health of the
> white shark at the aquarium.
>
> Our staff veterinarian and our team of husbandry biologists have been
> observing the abrasions and monitoring the shark’s condition continually
> since she came on exhibit last September. They are totally committed
> to assuring that the shark remains in good health until we return
> her to the wild. They do not share your sense of alarm.

Apparently, obviously, they do not.
Just as they 'did not' share concerns for the 3 blue sharks and the oceanic
white-tip that have died in the 'Outer Bay exhibit', Oceanic white-tips, in
fact do not even frequent the Monterey Bay, Outer Bay or not.
Outer Limits more likely.

Ken Peterson wrote:
> While the abrasions aren’t pretty, from direct observations our
> expert team is convinced that the abrasions are healing; a few may
> be in stable condition.

Oh, lets hope so, 'maybe', maybe not...

Ken Peterson wrote:
>(All of the abrasions she received before
> arrival at the aquarium have fully healed.)

Well, considering that the net scuffs were totally minor that not at all
shocking, what IS shocking is the present mutilated condition of the sharks
rostrum. Its a ghastly wound where a nose once was situated.

> They are relying not
> just on what they can see from the surface, but on observations made
> while diving in the exhibit, from photographs taken underwater by
> our staff photographer, and on observations of her swimming and
> feeding behavior.

Like I was saying, you'd have to be some PhD to prove that this animal is A-
okay...

Ken Peterson wrote:
> With the exception of our veterinarian, all of the
> folks on the white shark team are marine biologists who are drawing
> on years – and in some cases decades – of experience working with
> sharks and rays in an aquarium setting.

All of the aquariums displayed 'pelagic' sharks have died...
Have any ever been released successfully, IUm talking about pelagic sharks,
not the 7-gill shark that I tagged/tracked for the Monterey Bay aquarium back
in 1994.

I dont know that a single 'pelagic shark' ever displayed at the aquarium has
survived and been released.

Ken Peterson wrote:
> It’s worth noting that white sharks in the wild also show signs of injury
> and scarring.

Now were gettting into some 'spin', NO white shark I have ever seen, and ive
seen many; have ever shown such horrible scarrring, and Ive been studying
white sharks, in the wild for over 15 years.

The image below, illustrates what a white sharks 'natural' scar patterns look
like in reality; this is a heavily scarred example at that.

http://www.pelagic.org/research/pics/slide25.jpg

Natural scars in no way look as bad as the ones on this captive specimen.
I think its fairly reasonible to presume that this sharks abilities have been
deminished and the ampullae are not fully operational at this point due to
attrition.

Ken Peterson wrote:
> They aren’t pristine animals—but they’re healthy.

They dont look like the shark in your aquarium either MR Peterson.

Has this gentleman NOT seen the pictures, the specimen is hardy and robust,
but hardly 100% healthy.

A successful release should be predicated upon releasing the specimen BEFORE
it begins to fail, NOT once it begins to stagger or list, or bump/grind the
walls etc. THEY ARE MILKING IT.

Ken Peterson wrote:
> We also have years of experience releasing sharks with similar rostrum
> injuries. One large sevengill shark swam more than 200 miles from
> her release point and survived more than two years in the wild
> before she was caught by a sport angler. When caught, her rostrum
> injuries had healed and scarred over.

I dont know about Ken, but I was there; Im the one who tagged her and tracked
her form one of my boats when they did release her due to injuries to her
nose began to draw complaints (not before); the 7-gills nose was no-where
nearly as bad a shape and condition as this white shark pup.

Even so, after 4 years of being hand fed at the aquarium the big 7 gill shark
approached a sport fisherman who promptly caught and killed her, only then to
read the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation ID tag I placed on her.

Her rostrum injuries had healed, however they were not nearly as bad as the
white shark pups nose. I want you all to know it too.

Ken Peterson wrote:
> At the aquarium, the white shark continues to feed almost daily, to swim
> comfortably in the Outer Bay exhibit, and to grow.

So, when it stops feeding and swimming; then you'll release her... TOO LATE.
Just as with the first white shark that was displayed at the aquarium as well
the 3 blue sharks and the oceanic white-tip (doesnt even occur in Monterey
Bay).

Ken Peterson wrote:
> We’ve always used two key criteria to determine when she’ll be
> returned to the wild: First, if her health begins to decline in ways
> that we believe would threaten her ability to survive in the wild
> after release;

Ironic isnt it.
And if does die, oh well. $$chuk-ching$$...

> and, second, when she grows large enough to make it a
> challenge to remove her from the exhibit and transport her for release.

I see, wait till it does begin to list over and sink or gets to the point
where it will actually be a 'challenge' to release...

Hey, its worked for the blue sharks and the oceanic white-tip, oh yeah- they
all died...

Ken Peterson wrote:
> At this point, her health remains good.

Except for the smashed rostrum, Its okay, "Its just a head wound!"

Ken Peterson wrote:
> We’re continuing to plan for
> her release, which we believe will take place in a matter of months
> rather than years.

Brilliant, masters of the obvious.

Ken Peterson wrote:
> At release, she’ll be fitted with a data tag so
> we can learn how well she does after return to the wild.

Good idea.

Ken Peterson wrote:
> As a side note, we continue to use every opportunity we can to raise
> awareness among our visitors about the threats facing white sharks –
> indeed all sharks – worldwide.

How about the dead blue sharks and the oceanic white-tips, soupfins etc?
What if all the aquariums take up the noble notion of displaying these
parishables?

The MBA does much good, on this we part-company; it is interesting to note
that the MBA used to share this policy with us.

Ken Peterson wrote:
>And we continue to conduct and
> support conservation field research aimed at assuring a future with
> white sharks in the wild. Just today (March 1 our board of
> directors approved another $500,000 for multi-year field
> conservation studies of white sharks in southern California and Baja
> California. That brings to $840,000 the total amount that we, as a
> non-profit organization, have committed to tagging and other field research
> projects.

$$chuk-ching$$...

We'll see you out there.

Sean
Team Pelagic
Since 1990

> Thanks to all for your interest and concern.
>
> Ken Peterson
> Public Relations Manager
> Monterey Bay Aquarium
_________________
Sean R. Van Sommeran
Executive Director/CEO
The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
831-459-9346
831-425-2299 ext 212
psrf@pelagic.org
WWW.PELAGIC.ORG
Santa Cruz California
Since 1990

[coolrunnins]

why dont they just put something on the glass to make it visible? would that not help? i feel like they could at least try. like when they put silhouette of hawks on windows to stop songbirds from crashing into them. just put neon stripes all over the glass or something. that sharks nose cannot be healthy. im sure it will be screwed when its in the wild to some degree. isnt the nose where they have a lot of their sensory organs? is the mission of the aquarium to present damage to animals as something acceptable in the name of scientific study? isn't there also the possibility that the shark is experienceing irreversible mental trauma? i know if i kept my dog locked up in a cage that messed up his whole face he would never be the same outside the cage again. I applaud the aquarium's desire to educate the public and I'd love to see the white shark, but it doesnt take a genius to see that this animal has been kept in captivity too long already.

[oceanboy7]

I had no idea I was posting in such company. I stand by what I say, and I don't have to be a biologist to see she is hurt bad. I don't know enough to give advice about her wounds, obviously someone here does though, and I appreciate that input. All I know is how I feel. I stayed up all night for days when she was first brought in. It was exciting looking online, and on the aquarium website for any information I could find, I was so excited to see she was eating. I struggled with my own ethics because a Great White is not the same as any other shark, even Makos and Tigers don't compare. They are all beautiful, but there is something about a White that seems defiant and untouchable. I saw the refrigerated dead one at sea world when I was 12. It made me sick. It was wrong. I was hoping this would be different.

I would love to see her before she leaves, For me personally, sinse I was a young boy in the early 70's before JAWS, I have been fascinated by the Great White Shark. I would spend days upon days in the kelp in Southern Cal, in Lajolla, praying to see just a flash. I never saw one. They represented all that remained wild, their dignity never challenged like the Killer Whale, or the Lemon Sharks or Sand Sharks I would see kept in tanks back then.

Fine, she was caught, the aquarium happened to be doing a study on juveniles, and you kept her for a while. Thats enough! Thats a great white gift! I don't claim to know physiology, or behavior. I know what I feel when I see her now, and it makes me sad. I am going there to see her next week, as a native american, a fisherman, a student of environmental science, and a lover of the sea, which I spent a good part of my life in on and around. She does not belong to the aquarium, she belongs to the sea. I would love to see her on tuesday when I make a trip, that as a student I can not really afford.

Any of us who were able to see her should feel lucky, and its a gift if she lives, otherwise not. It would be better if it was just fluke, and not repeated. We obviously do not know enough about them. How many people have spent time studying Great Whites in Captivity? Then how can you say there is any answers to the questions you have about one in captivity. It is not the same at all as studying them in the wild. Its a great big experiment.

I don't blame the aquarium for trying, but I will blame the aquarium for pushing it. Let this be a lesson to others that we simply don't know enough to try this again, hopefully not while I am still alive. I think your aquarium is going to find that an awful lot of people feel this same exact way. PlEASE LET HER GO SOON!

Jeff Branham
Olympia WA
oceanboy7@hotmail.com
_________________
Jeffery

[SharkManiac]

Hi Guys!

I just can affirm the concerning of Jeff Branham!
Got the news published on my german website www.haiwelt.de to get the alarming situation the White is in around!

Arent the wounds a totally clear sign that shouts out "Get me outta here!"? What else has to happen to understand that the White isnt "healthy" at all and that its more important to free the shark in contrast to let people get "face to face" with it?
I just cant understand the decision of the MBA to keep the shark in captivity. I think this isn't good for the reputation of the MBA either...
_________________
Greetings
SharkManiac
Webmaster www.haiwelt.de

[Jason]

It is sad to say that the Aquarium, who is suppose to have the best interest in the marine life, would rather reap on the profits then quicky treat the Great White's nose and then release it to its natural habitat. If this continues I believe the the helpless Juvenile Great White will perish in its new water bucket with the next month.

This is wrong!!
_________________
Jason Moorehouse
Lasting Moments Photograpghy
www.thelastingmoments.com

[ghostbear29]

[Sean R. Van Sommeran]

Allen of the SF Chronicle took it ( the Spin) hook, line and sinker.

The SF Chronicle article from yesterday again falsly carachterized the snout injuries as a result of the holding pens, in fact; all we have to do is look at the pictures that the aquarium staff took at time of putting the white shark in the tank and it is clear that her snout is not injured when she was put in.

before:
http://www.underwatertimes.com/news/GW_before.jpg

after:
http://www.underwatertimes.com/news/GW.jpg

after:
http://www.underwatertimes.com/news/GWclose.jpg

The abrasions are a result of the tank, not the net pen, and the inuries have gotten worse not better; look at the bloody images.

How stupid are we supposed to pretend to be, this is classical Corporate spin.

The shark had some 'light' scuffing from the holdning net, the injuries she carries now are the result of the tank, not the net pens; these abraisons are the result of hard contact with the pool, not nets, nets do not do that sort of damge, pool sides do.
_________________
Sean R. Van Sommeran
Executive Director/CEO
The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
831-459-9346
831-425-2299 ext 212
psrf@pelagic.org
WWW.PELAGIC.ORG
Santa Cruz California
Since 1990

[kenpeterson]

Just to clarify a key point, which apparently was not clear in my the original posting:

The white shark had abrasions before she arrived at Monterey Bay Aquarium; and she has developed other abrasions during her time here.

The abrasions she sustained before her arrival have healed. Those that have developed since her arrival have either healed or are stable.

[Sean R. Van Sommeran]

Yeah, stabilized at 'seriously injured'; thanks Ken.

Looks beautiful, if you didnt know any better.
Just as with the hammerheads, oceanic white-tip, seaturtels etc which dont even occur here in Monterey and yet you constantly leave visitors with the false impression that the 'outerbay' exhibit somehow reflects accurately on the marine life that actaully iinhabits the Monterey Bay.

ITS FALSE.

Its rather annoying as well.

You'd have to have a pretty fat PhD to explain all the misplaced species and the injured shark (+dead sharks) with conservation or education.



ciao,
Sean
PSRF
_________________
Sean R. Van Sommeran
Executive Director/CEO
The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
831-459-9346
831-425-2299 ext 212
psrf@pelagic.org
WWW.PELAGIC.ORG
Santa Cruz California
Since 1990

[kenpeterson]

To clarify on a second point:

The species in the Outer Bay exhibit represent animals found in the open ocean waters of the temperate Eastern Pacific. That's a philosophical change we made a couple of years after the exhibit opened in 1996, and it's the way we interpret the exhibit to our visitors.

[Sean R. Van Sommeran]

The name of the exhibit should not be Monterey Bay 'Outer Bay' exhibit.

Many people assume/presume that the creatures displayed in the Monterey Bay Aquarium 'Outer Bay Exhibit'.

Hammerheads and oceanic white-tips and galapogos sharks and the featured sea-turtles are not present in the Monterey Bay, Outer or otherwise.

Beautiful aquarium I must say.

The shark looks aweful (injury).

Sean
PSRF
_________________
Sean R. Van Sommeran
Executive Director/CEO
The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
831-459-9346
831-425-2299 ext 212
psrf@pelagic.org
WWW.PELAGIC.ORG
Santa Cruz California
Since 1990