According to witnesses, the shark had, for several days, frequented very close to the state’s only jetty – where children often swim.
“People have tried to coerce the shark to leave the area,” said Antonio Iyechad, a resident of the state, said. “However, it kept showing up regularly.”Tiger sharks are notorious for attacks on people worldwide. They are the second largest predatory sharks – second only to great whites.Tiger sharks are sometimes referred to as the “wastebaskets of the sea” as they have been known to eat a wide range of things – tires, slippers, ropes, and even car license plates have been found in their stomachs. Tiger sharks normally feed on fish, sea birds, squid, seals, and other sharks.Tiger sharks grow to an average of 14 feet long and could weigh up to 2000 pounds. They are, by nature, aggressive and are considered as among the most dangerous sharks – a high percentage of the fatal shark attacks recorded worldwide is attributed to the tiger shark.According to Obeketang Ruluked, one of two fishermen who caught the tiger shark in Kayangel, “we were a little reluctant about killing the shark, but it just did not want to go away.”“We were afraid for our children,” Ruluked said. “They swim at the pier almost everyday.”Further, Ruluked added, the shark posed a threat to spear-fishermen who usually dive in the shallows waters about the pier.Ruluked said that he and Stevenson Mokisang, after spearing the shark with a harpoon, fought with it for about three hours.“I estimate the shark to be at least 900 pounds,” he said. “We had to haul the shark onto the beach with the state truck.”When the shark was gutted, Ruluked said, remains of a turtle and a whole mangrove crab were found in the shark’s digestive tract.Recently, a number of tiger sharks were spotted in the shallow coastal waters of Ngarchelong – many of which were seen attacking mooring buoys and floating debris “We are assuming that the shark travels between here and Babeldaob,” Ruluked said. “Maybe this is the same shark that went after fishermen in Ollei sometimes ago.”The tiger shark caught in Kayangel was divided and consumed. However, residents, after viewing the shark after it was caught, are apprehensive about going into the water.“It has been almost a week and no one seems to want to go into the water,” Ruluked said. “The sharks reputation lingers.”
