Great white shark dies after 3 days in Japanese aquarium
TOKYO — A great white shark has died after barely three days in a rare case of captivity in a Japanese aquarium.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium says the 3.5 meter (11.5-foot) shark, which was accidentally caught in a net in southwestern Japan on Tuesday, had died early Friday. The cause of death was under investigation.
Keeping a great white shark in captivity is extremely difficult as it needs to keep swimming constantly to get oxygen and maintain its body temperature.
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Aquarium officials say it suddenly weakened and sank to the bottom of the tank, and efforts to give it oxygen in a separate special tank failed.
An official for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, Asia, criticized keeping the shark in captivity as “cruel and wrong.”
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