A series of shark attacks occurred in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, a popular tourist destination, in December. Four tourists were seriously injured, and one German tourist was killed. The attacks were caused by a longimanus shark, one of the most dangerous in the world. To avoid further incidents, the Egyptian authorities closed the beaches and went on a large-scale shark hunt. Two sharks were captured and presented as the killers, but the attacks continued, and the beaches were closed again.
Experts believe that the sharks were attracted to the area by food thrown from boats, including sheep carcasses that were thrown overboard during the Eid festival. A specialist, George Burgess, was called in to investigate and concluded that the sharks were aggressive due to the presence of food. He recommended keeping the beaches closed until the sharks left the area.
Despite the risks, some diving instructors and tourists continued to dive in the area, taking precautions such as wearing shark-repellent wetsuits and staying calm in the presence of sharks. The Egyptian authorities eventually reopened the beaches, and there have been no new shark attacks since.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt is a popular tourist destination that attracts millions of visitors each year.
2. In recent weeks, sharks have been spotted in the area, causing panic among tourists.
3. A Russian tourist was attacked by a shark on November 30 and suffered serious injuries.
4. The day after the first attack, another Russian swimmer was attacked by a shark and had his arm torn off.
5. Four tourists were seriously injured by shark attacks in a span of two days.
6. The Egyptian authorities closed the beaches and launched a large-scale hunt for sharks.
7. Two sharks were captured and presented as the killers, and their jaws were shown to the press as proof.
8. However, two days later, a German tourist was killed by a shark while swimming near a luxury hotel.
9. The authorities reopened the beaches, but swimming was prohibited again after the third attack.
10. Experienced divers are allowed to jump into the water, but they must be careful and follow safety guidelines.
11. Sharks are attracted to food, and feeding them can make them associate humans with food, leading to aggressive behavior.
12. Feeding fish and sharks is strictly prohibited in Sharm el-Sheikh, but some tour operators circumvent the law to attract customers.
13. During the Eid al-Adha festival, sheep were transported on boats across the Red Sea, and some died during the trip.
14. The carcasses were thrown overboard, attracting sharks to the area and possibly contributing to the attacks.
15. The Egyptian authorities brought in a shark specialist, George Burgess, to investigate the attacks.
16. Burgess suggested that the only solution was to keep the beaches closed until the sharks moved away.
17. Since the report was filed, there have been no new shark attacks, and the Egyptian authorities have reopened all the beaches in Sharm el-Sheikh.