Dead shark spotted in Paphos

A dead shark possibly belonging to an endangered species was spotted on a beach along Cyprus’ western coast, with online users wondering whether the warm-blooded fish was killed or washed up dead.

Local media on Tuesday re-posted online photos of what appeared to be a dead sand bar shark, which was found on the beach with visible injuries, primarily around the head.

While initial reports said the particular shark was thought to be a protected species, an expert from the Marine and Environmental Research Lab said the dead fish pictured on a beach in Polis Chrysochous was not a protected species.

According to SigmaLive, the MER expert said the shark belonged to Carcharhinus plumbeus, a species threatened with extinction but not under protected status, with numbers having been reduced in the area of the Mediterranean.

The expert told SigmaLive that the shark could have been caught in fishing nets, adding that a visible wound to the head was a post mortem injury.

A Facebook page maintained by MER said sharks were not dangerous to humans, adding that the big fish were needed for a health ecosystem.

The death has been reported to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, which is investigating the incident.

No information was available as to whether the shark was dead when it washed ashore or caught and later killed out of the water.