BREAKING NEWS: Species thought to be locally extinct in South Africa found on Eastern Cape beach. On 19 Sept, marine history was made: a sawfish, thought locally extinct in SA, washed up near the Birah River Mouth, EC. READ MORE: web.facebook.com/share/p/172H... 📷: Kevin Cole & Mike Vincent

NEWS: Recent studies have found that much of the shark meat sold in the United States comes from endangered species. Research shows the majority of shark products are mislabeled or so vaguely described that buyers have no idea what they are eating. READ MORE: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

CHIMAERAS 👻🦈 Chimaeras, or “ghost sharks,” are close shark relatives. Unlike sharks, their jaws are fused to their skull, and as they mature, they lose their denticles - leaving their skin smooth and rubbery.

RAYS & SKATES: With flattened bodies, eyes positioned on top, and mouths and gills underneath, they’re built to glide effortlessly along the seabed. The difference? Rays have longer tails and give birth to live young, while skates lay eggs.

Sharks have been in our oceans for 400+ million years, yet many of their traits remain unknown. They’re defined by 5–7 gill slits and pectorals not fused to the head - key features that make a shark, a shark.

KZN: Heading down to the beachfront this week? Don't forget to pop past our latest exhibit at Ushaka Marine World. It’s an eye-opening journey into the challenges sharks face and why their survival is so important for our oceans.

NEWS: Learn how cutting-edge AI is transforming shark conservation by turning everyday online photos into real-time data that helps track threatened species and safeguard their future. Read the full article: www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com/nature/ai-ad...

🦈 Sharks Under Threat 🦈 PRISTIOPHORIFORMES The saw sharks, which are known for their long, pointed snouts lined with sharp teeth, resembling a saw. Species under threat: Lana's sawshark - IUCN Red List Status: NEAR THREATENED Continued monitoring & research are essential to ensure their protection.

NEWS: ReShark is a world-first shark rewilding initiative aiming to bring the Indo‑Pacific leopard shark (also known as the zebra shark) back to reefs where it had vanished. Read full article: news.mongabay.com/2025/08/can-...

🦈 Sharks Under Threat 🦈 ORECTOLOBIFORMES Commonly known as the carpet sharks,so named because they feed on the seabed. Many carpet sharks are at risk due to habitat loss and overfishing - particularly as bycatch. IMAGE: Zebra shark - IUCN Red List Status: ENDANGERED Credit: David Robinson

After 15 years of dedicated research, scientists have confirmed a third species of manta ray, Mobula yarae (the Atlantic manta ray) - joining the reef manta (Mobula alfredi) & the giant oceanic manta (Mobula birostris). Read article via Oceanographic: oceanographicmagazine.com/news/scienti...

🦈 Sharks Under Threat 🦈 LAMNIFORMES - These are the mackerel sharks, which include some of the most well-known shark species. Slow growth, late maturity & low reproductive rates make them vulnerable to global fishing pressures & exploitation. Image: Basking shark - IUCN RED List Status -ENDANGERED

Sharks have ruled the oceans for over 455 million years. Today, they face threats they’ve never encountered before, from overfishing to habitat destruction. It's not just about saving a species; it’s about preserving millions of years of evolution & keeping our ocean ecosystems in balance.

Half a century after 'Jaws' hit theaters, researchers are rewriting the story, revealing sharks not as villains, but as vital guardians of our oceans. Read New York Times article: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/s... @wildtrust.co.za @newyorktimeshaiku.bsky.social

Shark Truths – Not Terrors 🦈 MYTH: "Killing sharks makes oceans safer." SHARK TRUTH: Removing sharks doesn’t make the ocean safer. Sharks regulate the species below them in the food chain, helping maintain a healthy balance in marine ecosystems. 📷: Tom Vierus

On 11 June 2025, at #UNOC2025, @traffic_wltrade, @wwf, CMS, @cites, and IUCN hosted an event to launch a call for a Global Coalition to Halt the Extinction of Threatened Sharks and Rays. #UNOC3 @wildtrustssa.bsky.social #UNOC2025

“I’m incredibly excited that the film has been recognised at the ITFFA Awards. Being part of the project and a team that’s having an impact and changing the narrative around sharks is a real privilege.” says shark attack survivor Caleb Swanepoel. www.mosselbayadvertiser.com/News/Article...

We are excited to announce that our short film “Caleb - Beyond the Bite” won gold at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa Awards Ceremory in Johannesburg on Friday night. The short film follows Caleb Swanepoel’s emotional return to the ocean to swim with sharks. @wildtrustssa.bsky.social

The Sardine Run is here! The good news? Shark nets are temporarily removed reducing the risk of entanglement for marine life. However, drumlines—baited hooks designed to capture sharks—remain in place, meaning sharks are still at risk of being caught. @wildtrustssa.bsky.social

We are in Johannesburg attending the International Tourism Film Festival Africa 2025 (ITFFA), where our film "Caleb - Beyond the Bite" has been selected as a finalist. We are excited to see how the film performs in the Awards Ceremony tonight. Stay tuned for updates. @wildtrustssa.bsky.social

This #EndangeredSpeciesDay we focus our attention on the Puffadder Shyshark, a species of shark that is found only in SA's coastal waters. Overfishing, habitat degradation & bycatch threaten this species. It is classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. 📷: Steve Benjamin

Shark Truths – Not Terrors! MYTH: "Sharks are always lurking near beaches." SHARK TRUTH: Most shark species prefer deeper waters & are not typically found in shallow areas close to swimmers. They may venture nearer to the shoreline when following prey or seasonal migration. 📷: Andy Casagrande

WATCH: Handling guidelines for anglers - Catching large sharks: www.facebook.com/share/v/15FX... For full angling guidelines, visit: emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A... @wildtrustsa.bsky.social

MYTH: "Sharks are mindless killers." SHARK TRUTH: Sharks are highly intelligent animals with complex behaviours, such as social interactions, hunting strategies, & migration patterns. Encounters between sharks & humans are rare and often result from mistaken identity. Image credit: Connor Holland

MYTH: "All sharks are massive and dangerous." SHARK TRUTH: Most sharks are small, harmless, & feed on fish or plankton. Blacktip reef sharks, seen in image, only grow to be about 1,5 metres long, are shy by nature & pose little threat to humans. Image credit: David P Robinson via Ocean Image Bank

MYTH: “Sharks are man-eaters.” SHARK TRUTH: Despite what the media portrays, sharks are not out to get humans and the vast majority of shark species pose no threat to people. In most cases, if a shark bites, it’s a case of mistaken identity. Image credit: Vincent Kneefel via Ocean Image Bank

Protecting coastal waters may be the best investment you’ve never heard of, says Kristin Rechberger

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Community-based conservation cuts thresher shark fishing by 91% in Indonesia, new study shows. The program supported nine voluntary fishers with resources to transition to new livelihoods, leading to increased income for some. @mongabay.com news.mongabay.com/2025/03/comm...

FAQs: How is the conservation status of different shark species assessed? The @iucnshark.bsky.social assess the conservation status of sharks, rays, & chimaeras through a rigorous, science-based process that help classify species into categories based on their extinction risk. www.iucnredlist.org

FAQs: Can fisheries for sharks, rays, and chimaeras be sustainable? Unsustainable fishing is the greatest threat to sharks and rays. That said, sustainable fisheries are possible, and do exist for a few shark and ray populations in a handful of countries. Learn more: www.iucnssg.org/faq.html

FAQs: What policy solutions can help save sharks, rays, and chimaeras? Reducing mortality could be achieved through a combination of sustainable fishing quotas, effective training for officials, habitat protection, & implementing harvest or retention bans for key species. www.iucnssg.org/faq.html

The ocean is the Earth's life support system & among its most vulnerable species are sharks and rays. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet" focusing on the urgent need to protect our planet’s natural resources - from the air we breathe to the oceans that sustain life. #EarthDay

FAQs: What are sharks, rays, and chimaeras? Sharks, rays, and chimaeras belong to the Chondrichthyan group, with over 1,250 species and growing. "Batoids" include rays, skates, and sawfishes, while "ghost sharks" refer to chimaeras. Stay tuned for more FAQs!

The dark shyshark, found from Namibia to East London, South Africa, is a small bottom-dweller known for curling into a ball when threatened. At just 60cm long, its dark, spotty pattern helps it blend into reefs and kelp forests as it hunts crustaceans, fish, and molluscs. 📷: Steve Benjamin

The White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), or 'Great White Shark,' is a massive predator often found nearshore but sometimes ventures into open waters. Reaching up to 6m in length, their chunky build and powerful leaps to catch seals make them truly awe-inspiring. Image Credits: Morne Hardenberg

NEWS: "How two orcas with a taste for liver decimated the great white shark capital of the world" While this highlights rapid ecosystem shifts, the greatest threat to sharks remains human-driven overfishing. Read more via The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

In June 2022, WTO members adopted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. With 91 of 111 ratifications secured, only 20 more are needed to bring this vital step for sustainable fishing and marine protection into force!

Today, on World Wildlife Day, we celebrate the incredible diversity of wildlife found within our South African ocean, which includes sharks and rays. On World Wildlife Day, we’re reminded of the urgent need to protect our wildlife, on our land and in our seas.

The ragged-tooth shark (Carcharias taurus), affectionately called the "raggie" in South Africa, is a captivating species found along our coastline. With its jagged teeth and striking grin, this shark is known for its docile nature despite its fierce appearance, making it a favourite among divers

The blue shark (Prionace glauca), a sleek predator of the open ocean, faces threats from fishing pressure and bycatch. As apex predators, they’re vital to marine ecosystems, underscoring the need for stronger conservation efforts. 📸: Morne Hardenberg

The IUCN Red List has updated the conservation status of several marine species in South African waters, highlighting the growing threats to marine biodiversity. These updates serve as a reminder of the fragility of our marine ecosystems Read the full list here: www.facebook.com/SharksUnderA...

A recent study identified the Eastern Cape & KZN as vital migration corridors for endangered oceanic manta rays, with Ballito emerging as a key hotspot. The study highlights the urgent need for MPAs to protect these giants. Read more via: www.citizen.co.za/north-coast-...

WATCH: Anglers play a key role in protecting sharks and rays. Watch the 1st of 3 videos on safe catch-and-release techniques and get full guidelines at sharksunderattackcampaign.co.za/recreational-fishing. WATCH NOW: www.facebook.com/share/v/15qx...

Love is in the air... as well as the ocean 🩵 For the first time researchers have witnessed whale shark pre-mating behaviour in the wild which could reveal critical clues about how the species reproduces. The existence of these records further opens the door for whale shark conservation efforts.

The short-tail stingray (Bathytoshia brevicaudata), the largest (marine) stingray species in the world, is a majestic sight along South Africa’s coastline. Known for its broad shaped body and impressive size, it can reach up to 2 meters in width. Image Credits: Morne Hardenberg

The paradox of having lethal shark instruments in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In September 2024, a white shark carcass washed up on the shore of Zinkwazi Beach after being caught on a KZN sharks board drumline, which is within the uThukela MPA. Read on: www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Yesterday, WILDTRUST in collaboration with the GreenLaw Foundation, hosted day one of a two day mock criminal trial in Simon’s Town with lawyers Kistnasamy, Nel and Pretorius who played the roles of Magistrate, Prosecutor and Defence. @wildtrustsa.bsky.social @onthebrinksa.bsky.social

As its name suggests, a sevengill shark has seven gills, where most sharks have five gills. These sharks can be identified by the number of gills, as well as the speckled spots found spread out on their backs. Image Credits: Mark Van Coller

South Africa – the ocean needs us! Beyond our shores lie the high seas—vast waters that cover nearly half our planet but remain largely unprotected. Let’s sign the High Seas Treaty - for our people, our economy, and generations to come. Add your voice: highseasalliance.org/treaty.../ma...

The Pyjama Shark. 🦈 With it's striped like pattern, the pyjama shark in fact looks like it is wearing pyjamas - a fitting look for this nocturnal species. Pyjama sharks hunt at night, resting in caves by day. Image Credits: Steve Benjamin @wildoceanssa.bsky.social