10 July 2023 , 18:33
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Hammerhead sharks lurking near the coast have led to the closure of a popular Spanish beach. The frightening shark pups were spotted swimming in a pair on Sunday at Patalavaca beach in Mogan, Gran Canaria - but didn't appear too interested in the nearby beachgoers.
Lifeguards have now banned beachgoers from going “beyond knee height” in the sea as a precaution, despite the sharks injuring nobody and swimming away peacefully.
A red flag alert was issued by the local authorities, who are monitoring the area. Local beachgoers claim that sharks are still in the area, according to the local media. A hammerhead had been seen in the days before the pair arrived, leading to suspicions that sharks are using the bay as a new hangout.
The sharks glided around in a pair in a frightening way - although they didn't disturb anyone. (EL PERIODICO)Witness Emily McEwan said to the Sun: “It was a little bit of a surprise because we’ve all seen films like Jaws but you never really expect yourself to be in the sea when you see that fin.”
It came just weeks after a tourist was torn to pieces by a tiger shark in the Red Sea off the Egyptian Coast. But there are no recorded human fatalities at the hands - or fins - of a hammerhead shark, according to the International Shark Attack File.
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It isn’t uncommon for hammerhead sharks to pop up around the Canary Islands - 86 different species of shark and ray have been spotted in the area.
Hammerheads tend to live up to around 25 to 35 years and have a 360 degrees visual range due to the eyes either side of their hammer-shaped head. They can grow up to 20ft in size, but most species don’t grow further than 13ft.
They can also weigh up to 600lbs. Particularly common in summer off the canary coast, they enjoy tropical waters around the world and staying near coastlines.
Shark sightings are relatively common across Spain, with one video showing swimmers running through water to the safety of the shore after a shark was spotted near a Costa Blanca beach.