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Guardia Civil come across loggerhead turtles in nets off Tenerife while near El Hierro a rare Malpelo shark spotted
Separate marine encounters bring attention to Canary Islands’ diverse wildlife
Guardia Civil officers from the Provincial Maritime Service of Santa Cruz de Tenerife recently came across the carcass of a loggerhead turtle caught in fishing nets about half a mile from the Santa Cruz pier. Shortly after, they discovered a second loggerhead turtle trapped in the same nets but in much better condition. Fortunately, the living turtle was freed on the spot and safely released back into the waters.The nets, approximately ten square metres in size and drifting adrift, were posing a navigational hazard. The dead turtle specimen and the nets were passed to the Tahonilla Recovery Center, part of the Cabildo’s Department of the Natural Environment, for further examination. The Guardia Civil are holding onto the nets to investigate their ownership.
Separately, the Canary Islands have seen several shark sightings recently, including the rare appearance of a Malpelo monster shark near El Hierro. The El Bajón Diving Center in La Restinga shared footage of the endangered shark species, which has not been recorded in the area since 2019.These sharks tend to live at depths between 400 and 1,000 metres but pregnant females occasionally come closer to shore during summer to give birth. The smooth shark, or dogtooth shark, can reach lengths of up to 3.6 metres and is particularly vulnerable due to its slow growth, long lifespan, and low reproduction rate.
Experts urge that any encounters with these sharks be treated with respect and caution to protect both the animals and people involved.
Images: Guardia Civil and Freekpik
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