BASKING SHARK WASHED UP ON A BEACH

According to the July 24 2009 (issue 38) of “The Overflow Newsletter”, a 26-foot, 1-tonne basking shark recently washed up on a beach in New York State, startling beachgoers. Unfortunately, the huge shark died. There were plans to send samples of the animal around the world. Here are the details taken from “The Overflow Newsletter”: -“26 Foot Shark Washed Ashore - Eager to scrutinize a species with few samples available for study, researchers Tuesday sliced up the carcass of an enormous basking shark that washed up on Gilgo Beach in Babylon, New York State, with plans to send samples of the animal around the world. The barely alive 26-foot shark startled beachgoers when it appeared on shore Tuesday. "It came in alive, wasn't in good shape and died," said Demian Chapman, 34, assistant professor at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. It's unclear why the shark died, but researchers believe it was ill or had been injured. The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation will determine the cause of death, state parks spokesman George Gorman said. Tracy Marcus of Cornell Cooperative Extension told The Associated Press the dead shark weighed about a ton. She said it is unusual for ailing basking sharks to come ashore. No one is allowed to kill basking sharks, an important species that researchers are eager to study.” Some photos of the shark being attended to by beachgoers can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com.au/stevereynolds600/SDFNewsSheetAugust2009