Several sharks behind Egypt attacks
A marine biologist from the US has said that more than one shark is behind the attacks on tourists in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, one of which has killed a German tourist. George Burgess said that a single shark had carried out two of the attacks, while a different species was responsible for two other incidents. It is believed that an oceanic whitetip shark is responsible for killing the German tourist on 5 December. Many of the beaches around Sharm el-Sheikh remain closed to swimmers and snorkellers, although there have been valiant attempts to reassure divers of their safety – including one politician who went for a dive just to prove that it was safe. Egyptian authorities are understandably concerned about the effect the shark attacks will have on tourism levels, although there have yet to be any reports of cancellations of holidays as a result of the incidents. Burgess said that an investigation into why the sharks had suddenly started to attack humans was ongoing, but that in the meantime he advised people to swim in groups in areas inside the reef, and to stay out of the water at night.
A marine biologist from the US has said that more than one shark is behind the attacks on tourists in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, one of which has killed a German tourist. George Burgess said that a single shark had carried out two of the attacks, while a different species was responsible for two other incidents. It is believed that an oceanic whitetip shark is responsible for killing the German tourist on 5 December.
Many of the beaches around Sharm el-Sheikh remain closed to swimmers and snorkellers, although there have been valiant attempts to reassure divers of their safety – including one politician who went for a dive just to prove that it was safe. Egyptian authorities are understandably concerned about the effect the shark attacks will have on tourism levels, although there have yet to be any reports of cancellations of holidays as a result of the incidents. Burgess said that an investigation into why the sharks had suddenly started to attack humans was ongoing, but that in the meantime he advised people to swim in groups in areas inside the reef, and to stay out of the water at night.