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The Ganges shark’s last refuge has been found. Now comes the fight to save it
Researchers found 43 signs of the rare shark across two field trips, strengthening hopes that North Kalimantan may hold its last viable population.
- Researchers led by Michael Grant of James Cook University identified a potential stronghold for the elusive Ganges shark in Indonesia's North Kalimantan, documenting 43 individuals across two expeditions.
- The Ganges shark, one of only three river shark species globally, remains critically endangered with an estimated 240 adults remaining; before this discovery, the species had never been photographed alive.
- During a 2023 survey, one fisherman in the Sesayap River region reported unintentionally catching 17 Ganges sharks in a single week; subsequent 2026 fieldwork confirmed further evidence, raising the total to 43 specimens.
- Experts designated the Sesayap River an 'Important Shark and Ray Area' to support conservation efforts, with most local communities expressing willingness to act as stewards, according to Benaya Simeon, a doctoral candidate at Charles Darwin University.
- Researchers warn that accidental bycatch remains a primary threat to the shark's survival; experts suggest area-based protections, as the species shares its habitat with protected animals like Irrawaddy dolphins and giant freshwater rays.
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Scientists Find Potential Last Refuge of Elusive River Shark
We'd like to show you a photo of an extremely rare, critically endangered shark, one of only three river shark species around the world, but this one is so obscure, it's never been photographed alive. As CNN reports, the Ganges shark is generally known only from the odd fin or...
·Miami, United States
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