In
a world first, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo has initiated an assisted
breeding programme for the species, of which there are only 1,500 estimated to
remain in the wild.
The
long-term project will develop technology that could eventually be used to
artificially inseminate various species of sharks.
“Artificial
insemination has already been used on brown-banded bamboo sharks with a pup
successfully born from an egg,” said Paul Hamilton, general manager and
aquarium curator.
“But
this is the first time the technique is going to be applied to sand tiger
sharks, which give birth to pups in the womb, so it’s a real world first.”
The
groundwork on the science has been done at Sea Life in Melbourne, Australia,
and Dr Jon Daly, who is involved with that nine-year research, will lead the
project in Dubai as a research consultant.
A
full-time research vet will also be on hand to support the project at Dubai
Aquarium.
“We
have a number of sand tiger sharks at the aquarium and that means it will allow
us to monitor them more easily,” Mr Hamilton said.
Sperm
from male sharks will be frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. It can be stored
at that temperature for an indefinite period until it is required to inseminate
a female shark.
The
sand tiger shark is listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and could become extinct
in 30 years.
It
is a unique animal because the females only breed every two years and no more
than two pups are usually born.
This
is because there is a fierce fight for survival in the mother’s womb as the
pups kill and eat each other until only one or two are left.
“It’s
nature’s way of making sure that the shark that is born is fit and strong
enough to survive in the wild,” Mr Hamilton said.
“Unfortunately,
this is one of the reasons why the declining numbers in the wild are so hard to
replenish.
“They
are a fearsome-looking shark, with the row of big teeth, and that has given
them a reputation as potential threats to humans, so there has been some
hunting because of that.
“We
are confident that the techniques learnt in Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
will eventually be applied to the conservation of sharks worldwide.”
A
cryogenic lab has been set up to support the programme and visitors will be
able to see the work being done as well as behind-the-scenes operations at the
aquarium.
The
research is expected to lead to new scientific protocols in areas that include
handling of sand tiger sharks, sperm collection and its cryo-preservation,
ultrasound monitoring of female sharks and live birth of pups.
Dr. Daly will be splitting his time between Dubai and Melbourne.
“We
will monitor the reproduction cycles of the females here in Dubai because, at
the moment, there hasn’t been much study on that and we will also be collecting
blood to help replicate hormones,” he said.
“Eventually
we could inseminate a female sand tiger but that will be further down the line,
once we know more about their breeding habits. Hopefully this is an insurance
policy in case the worst happens and they do become extinct.”
Similar
reproduction programmes have been successful for Pacific white-sided dolphins,
bottlenose dolphins, Spanish ibex, cheetahs and the giant panda.
The
work in Dubai will be shared around the world. –End-
Image
by: http://www.thenational.ae/
No comments:
Post a Comment