VietNamNet Bridge – A 2m long shark was washed onto the beach of Nha Trang by waves on December 26.

The shark was released back to the sea by tourists.

Mr. Chu Anh Khanh, from the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, Khanh Hoa province, said that this was the first time a shark appearing in the Nha Trang Bay.

The shark has a waistline of 60-70cm, weighs about 180kg. It was washed onto the beach in front of the Phu Dong Park, Nha Trang City on the afternoon of December 26.

Photo: The shark was pulled ashore by some visitors then released back to the sea.

According to Khanh, when the share was pulled to shore by tourists, it was still alive but very weak, with many wounds on the body.

Khanh reported the incident to the institute and they intended to collect the shark as a specimen if it dies but tourists released the fish back to the ocean.

"When the shark was released into the sea, the waves hit it several times and it sunk. Perhaps it was dead," said Khanh.

According to the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, this shark species often appears 60-90km from shore, from the surface to the depth of 366m.

They have small mouths and their feed is small fish such as anchovies, herring and they are not dangerous to humans.

This species is ranked as endangered by the IUCN.

Xuan Tung