The alarm was raised on Tuesday afternoon in the area of Cala Murada, manacor, after a member of the public contacted the Local Police to report the presence of what appeared to be a blue shark in the waters of that area of the municipality. Police officers immediately went to the area and proceeded to close off the area in the presence of the shark, which was moving in a way that was striking to those unfamiliar with the marine environment, initially giving the impression that it was lost or injured.
Nothing could be further from the truth, as biologists from the Palma Aquarium Foundation immediately went to the area, in an operation led by Xisca Pujol, head of the organisation’s stranding network in the Balearics. There they found the blue shark, 2.7 metres long and female, ‘stranded on the sand, dying, in very poor condition. It had serious, fatal head injuries’. They immediately contacted veterinarians Juan Ignacio Serra and Tania Monreal, specialists in marine fauna, in order to establish a protocol for action and share information about the condition of the blue shark.
‘The professionals decided to end the animal’s suffering, and it was euthanised on the spot’ in order to preserve its well-being at the end of its life and immersed in an aquatic habitat. Subsequently, once out of the water and during its transfer, Xisca Pujol confirmed that ‘four swords (or spikes) were found stuck in its head, which leads us to believe that it was not just one animal that attacked it,’ in addition to mentioning that it was not just one animal that attacked it.
Xisca Pujol confirmed that ‘four swords (or beaks) were found stuck in its head, which leads us to believe that it was not just one that attacked it,’ adding that this is not an isolated case in the waters of the Mediterranean and the Balearics.
Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are wide-ranging, pelagic sharks known for their slender bodies, long fins, and distinct blue coloration, fading from deep indigo on their backs to white underneath. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide and are opportunistic predators that primarily eat squid and small fish, but will also scavenge on carrion or prey on seabirds and other smaller sharks. Blue sharks are a highly migratory species and give birth to live young.
Appearance
Color: Deep indigo blue on the back, brighter blue on the sides, and white on the underside. This is a classic example of countershading.
Body: Slender and streamlined.
Fins: Long, pointed pectoral fins.
Head: Long snout and large eyes.
Size: Can grow up to 3.8 meters (13 feet), but average lengths are around 1.8 to 2.4 meters (6 to 8 feet). Females are typically larger than males.
Behavior and diet
Behavior: Blue sharks are known to be curious and can be seen slowly cruising near the surface. They are also capable of raising their body temperature above the surrounding water to hunt in colder areas.
Diet: Primarily feed on squid and schooling fish, but are opportunistic and will also consume seabirds, other sharks, crustaceans, and carrion.
Reproduction
Method: The blue shark is viviparous, meaning the embryos develop inside the female and are nourished by a yolk-sac that eventually links with the uterus to form a placenta-like structure.
Offspring: Females give birth to live young.
Conservation status
Status: Globally listed as “Near Threatened,“ though some populations, such as those in the Mediterranean, are considered “Critically Endangered”.
Threats: They are vulnerable to overfishing, as they are often caught unintentionally in nets meant for other species.