About a year ago, a tragic event unfolded on the shores of Namibia.
Thousands of seals, spanning various age groups, were found dead.
The cause of this mass die-off was starvation, as these unfortunate creatures were desperately scavenging for food.
Among the few available options was the St. Joseph’s shark, a creature that sometimes proved to be more dangerous than hunger itself.
They found themselves in need of help.
During a rescue operation, two seals were discovered with spikes protruding from their necks.
The rescuers, Naude and Denzil from Ocean Conservation Namibia, were initially puzzled by the sight.
They speculated that the spikes could be pieces of wood or perhaps stingray barbs.
Little did they know, this unusual discovery would lead them to a startling revelation.
As they delved deeper into the mystery, they found that one of the seals had a St. Joseph’s shark still hanging from its neck.
This was a shocking revelation.
It was neither a common prey for seals nor a typical sight for the rescuers.
The young male seal even had an entire fish still with him, further highlighting the desperate measures these animals were resorting to for survival.
The St. Joseph’s shark, also known as the Cape elephantfish, is a unique species.
It belongs to a primitive subclass of fish that diverged before many of the traits we associate with sharks evolved.
This creature is neither a shark nor a bony fish.
Rather, it’s a chimera with peculiar traits that resemble the ratfish found in the United States.
Despite their strange appearance, St. Joseph’s sharks are quite common.
These creatures are predominantly found in the shallow seas of the Western Cape, but they can also be spotted in Namibia and the Eastern Cape.
Contrary to popular belief, chimeras like the St. Joseph’s shark are rather abundant.
They are the only common shallow-water species, as most chimeras inhabit deep-water habitats.
One of their most distinctive features is the large, gnarly barbs that stick out from their dorsal fin.
These barbs are not just for show.
They are poisonous and pose a significant threat to any creature that tries to consume the shark.
The fur seals, driven by hunger, have been resorting to this dangerous prey, resulting in the spikes getting lodged in their bodies.
As the seals attempt to tear the sharks into bite-sized pieces, the one-way barbs frequently break off and remain stuck in the seals.
The desperation of the seals was palpable.
As the rescuers approached one of the injured animals, they could see how restless and pained it was.
“So we found the culprit. We found what we thought were stingray barbs. We had two in the last week thinking that it’s stingray barbs. This is St. Joseph’s shark,” one of the rescuers shared.
The team immediately set to work, removing the spike from the seal’s neck.
They then moved on to another seal, which had a cut on its chest from a thin pitching line. After freeing this seal as well, they returned to examine the shark.
“It’s a long sharp barb on his head and not the normal prey for seals. But obviously with them being so hungry, the big starvation at the moment, they’re going for whatever they can get,” Naude explained.
“And obviously you can see the bite marks. They grab the fish, shake it around. As he grabbed it and shook it around, it pricked him in the throat.”
Needless to say, it’s a good thing rescuers were on the beach that day and nearly every day to help these ocean pups out.
Watch the intense moment these rescuers pull a shark from a seal’s neck in the video below!
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