An endangered 14ft long shark found dead on a Brit beach WAS killed by an angler, the post mortem has found.
Wildlife lovers were furious after the thresher shark washed up on the shoreline.
They are classified as endangered in European waters by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List.
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It was discovered washed up by a dog walker on New Year’s Day.
Experts from Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network attended the beach at Par, Cornwall.
It was feared it died after being caught by a sports angler, which has now been proven.
Matt Slater, the charity’s marine conservation officer, said: “It’s very sad this shark died.
“It was taken away by our volunteers and a post-mortem was carried out.
“It looks as if this shark was most likely caught by recreational fishers.
“There was a hole in the jaw, which looks like it was caught by a hook.”
James Barnett, a veterinary investigator for the Cornwall Marine Pathology Team, carried out the post-mortem as reported by Need To Know.
James said his initial findings concluded the shark suffered severe traumatic damage to the soft tissue and cartilage of the left upper and lower jaw.
And one 5mm diameter hole running through the entire left lower lip and communicating with the oral cavity.
The 14ft-long sharks injuries. (Jam Press/Cornwall Marine Pathology Team)
“In our opinion, this was consistent with the shark having been caught on a hook, probably by a sports fisherman,” James said.
“There was also a clear rope mark around the base of the tail consistent with the animal being hoisted or dragged by a rope.
“The rope mark is likely to have occurred after the animal died.
“The injury to the jaw would have occurred before the animal died – please note that the metal object in the hole is obviously not the hook but an instrument used to illustrate the connection of the hole in the lip with the oral cavity.
“In my opinion, this animal suffered significantly before it died.
“It also had evidence of internal haemorrhage and it is surprising that the catching of such large animals in this way is legal.
“These animals may not have the intelligence of charismatic megafauna like dolphins and whales but they are still sentient animals capable of feeling pain.”
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