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In unfamiliar territory

At Miracle beach: The sandbar shark. Photo: AP

A seven-foot shark that became a tourist attraction at a Spanish beach died after biologists caught and removed it to an aquarium. A sandbar shark, which is not known for attacking humans, turned up at Miracle in Tarragona province in early August. Initially authorities closed the beach but the fish began to swim in shallow water with bathers gathering to take photos. Finally three biologists from Barcelona Aquarium went into the water and after a couple of attempts caught the shark with their hands. But they suffered minor cuts and scratches due to the shark’s fins. But after it was taken to the aquarium, it stopped swimming and divers had to help it breathe and move. Early tests showed that it had a six-centimetre hook caught in its oesophagus, which may have caused its death.

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