Four shark attacks in five weeks could be linked to east coast whale migration
A leading marine biologist believes there could be a link between the spate of shark attacks off the east coast of Australia and the large number of whales migrating north. Key points: There have been four shark attacks off the east coast of Australia in less than five weeks A record number of whales has been recorded migrating north up the east coast Marine biologist Dr Julian Pepperell says it is a "reasonable hypothesis" that shark numbers were growing in line with an increase in whale numbers which could be leading to more attacks In the past five weeks, there have been three fatal sharks attacks off the east coast of Australia as well as another presumed shark attack off Cairns that resulted in an injury to the lower leg. Dr Julian Pepperell, an independent marine biologist and author, said it was a "reasonable hypothesis" there were more shark attacks because there were more sharks following the whales on their annual migration north. Not much research on shark-whale link Macquarie University marine scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta said it was estimated the humpback whale population was about 35,000 and "was growing at around 11 per cent each year". Dr Pepperell said big sharks like great whites and tigers were known to "gorge themselves" on the flesh of dead whales.
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