‘Forgotten fauna’: Little known river sharks and rays face increased extinction risk
The Vashishti River, originating in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats and flowing into the Arabian Sea along India’s western coast, has long supported traditional fishing communities. But in 2023, local fishers encountered something entirely unexpected. As they hauled a gill net into a boat, a gray body, still making faint movements, emerged tangled in the mesh, […]
The Vashishti River, a waterway originating in India's Western Ghats and emptying into the Arabian Sea, has historically supported local fishing communities. In 2023, however, these fishermen encountered something unusual while hauling a gill net - three bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) entangled in the mesh. This marks the first documented report of sharks in the Vashishti River, according to marine researcher Priyankar Chakraborty.
Across India, dozens of shark and ray species are known to inhabit estuaries and rivers, but many remain poorly understood due to limited research. Globally, approximately 60 species of sharks and rays spend time in inland waters, yet they have received minimal scientific scrutiny compared to their marine relatives. Despite this, many of these inland species are among the most threatened vertebrates on Earth.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
