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Critical endangered Angel Shark gives birth in UK aquarium
Delighted keepers at Deep Sea World, Scotland’s national aquarium, are celebrating after thebirth of a rare angel shark pup. It’s the firsttime the critically endangered shark has ever bred successfully in the UK .
Credit: Deep Sea World
Deep Sea World diver, Tina Aydon, with the shark pup
Deep Sea World website | Deep Sea World | 11-21-2011
As soon as the first pup was born it was very carefully transferred into its own display where it can be kept under observation.
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The first 24hours are crucial and we are all just hoping for the best and keeping ourfingers crossed. The female appears to be in good condition and we are expectingmore pups to be born
”—Aisling Thornton, Deep Sea World
In 2006 the angel shark,which can grow to two metres in length, was declared extinct in the North Sea. At the same time its status was upgraded to Critically Endangered on theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
The aquarium said angel sharks grow very slowly and mature only at a large size. As a result very few reach maturity and the population is declining.
They are also highly vulnerable to being caught as a by-catch through bottom trawls, set nets and bottom long lines.
Primary source â–º Deep Sea World
Further reading â–º
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