Last week, a rare shark washed up dead on Lepe Beach in Hampshire, England. The shark was identified as a smalltooth sand tiger and scientists were eager to study it. But overnight, its head, tail, and fin were mysteriously stolen and a hunt for the missing body parts ensued.
Television historian Dan Snow got involved in the case, spearheading the search for the missing limbs. He asked that the missing parts be returned, so that scientists could use them for research purposes.
In a tweet, Snow said, “We went to secure the shark for science last night. But we were too late! Please, please –(if) you have the head get in touch. The scientists want to have a look at it and then it’s yours to keep.”
When the shark was first spotted, it was alive and swimming in the shallow waters near the beach. Later, the shark washed up dead on the beach and according to The Shark Trust, an international shark conservation group, the shark is “naturally rare” and is infrequently found in waters north of France.
“Scientists say that no shark of this species, of this scale – it’s well over two meters long – has ever washed up on U.K. shores before,” Snow told the BBC. He said that the shark was a “once in a lifetime” find and that it was “incredibly valuable.”
“The head in particular holds the key to unlocking intricate details of the shark’s life, even from before birth, so we’d welcome news of its whereabouts,” the Shark Trust said.
Currently, the remains of the shark are being stored at the Zoological Society of London but the hunt for the missing body parts is still underway.
