Bimonthly Newsletter

April 2018| Issue 1

www.facebook.com/idtheleopardshark
idtheleopardshark@marinemegafauna.org

Background Welcome to the first of ID the

Leopard Shark newsletter. Please
ID the Leopard shark was set up in May 2017, prompted by forward it to others who have an
the urgent need for spatial, trend and abundance interest in shark conservation and
information on endangered leopard shark both nationally would like to follow the progress of
and globally. The project asks scuba divers, spear- ID the Leopard Shark.
fishermen and free-divers to report any sightings and
photographs taken of Leopard shark in Mozambique, South Contents
Africa and Madagascar.
• Background
This project comes at a crucial time when the National Plan • Key Locations
of Action (NPOA) for shark and ray conservation in
• Preliminary findings
Mozambique is being developed. As a standard this would
only include the protection of sharks and rays listed under • Photo of the month
CITES, however, there is opportunity to develop a more • Social Media
comprehensive NPOA for shark and ray protection that also • Next steps.
protect non-CITES listed sharks and rays.
• Thanks
 ID the Leopard Shark
April 2018| Issue

Key Locations

There are 5 main areas that ID the Leopard

Shark is receiving data from so far; these
are Barra, Tofo, Zavora, Ponta de Ouro and
Sodwana Bay. If you have information about
leopard shark sightings at other locations or
would like to further participate in the
project, please get in touch.
Researcher Jorge Sitoe presenting preliminary
findings to the fisheries department

Leopard shark are one of the best examples

of an endangered shark species in
Mozambique that is not listed under CITES
but still require more research and
protection. With your help, ID the Leopard
shark aims to fill the knowledge gap required
by the IUCN and Mozambican government
in order to create legislation and access if
increased protection is required.

Project updates

In February, ID the Leopard shark visited

participating dive centres Peri Peri, Tofo
Scuba and Liquid Divers in Tofo, Barra New logo!
Reef Divers, GOZO Azul in Ponta and Special thanks to Carole Roberts who
Coral Divers in Sodwana Bay to promote designed the new logo for ID the Leopard
the project and deliver promotional Shark in January!
materials.
 ID the Leopard Shark
April 2018| Issue

Preliminary findings. Photo of the Month

To date, 169 photographs have been collected. The January
most contributions have been received from Tofo (n =
154), Sodwana (n = 6), Zavora (n = 3), Ponta (n = 2),
Vilanculos (n=2) and Barra (n = 2).

69 individuals have been Identified from 150

photographs; contributions containing only right IDs Delighted to see Leo – our most sighted
can not yet be used for identification if they do not shark back in Tofo for 2018. Sighted by
Berta, researcher with MMF, who has
match previous right IDs (n = 19).
helped tremendously throughout the project.

February

Our most recent picture of a leopard shark

from Sodwana bay. Taken by Grant Smith,
managing director of SharkLife when free-
In total (n= 23; 34% of individuals) have been re-
diving on Two Mile Reef.
sighted between 2 – 18 times; 74% of which have
been re-sighted at the same location. The longest March
duration between first and last capture being 2638
days (7 years) between 26/01/2010 – 17/04/2017. Re-
sighted individuals have only been sighted at 4
northern dive sites in Tofo, Mozambique. The small
area and extended period between recaptures
suggests that there is resident population in Tofo.
There is also a possibility of a more transient Steven Scagnelli diving with Tofo Scuba
population but this is yet to be proved. took a picture of a male and female leopard
shark travelling together!
 ID the Leopard Shark
April 2018| Issue

Next Steps

• Increasing participation from scuba

divers in the project.
• Improve feedback to dive centres
submitting information.
• Increase traffic on the project Facebook
and Twitter pages
• Continue to analyse the data provide
summaries to scuba divers government
and academics

Quiz Evening

Summer months are the best time to see

leopard shark, so keep your eyes out!

Facebook

ID the Leopard Sharks Facebook page is

On February,15th an ocean themed quiz was
gathering strength with currently over 200
held to raise awareness for leopard shark.
followers. The site is a useful place to learn
The lucky winners went away with ID the
about leopard shark, discuss issues and post
Leopard Sharks bamboo toothbrushes,
photos of leopard shark. If you are a
straws and cotton bags. Thanks again for
Facebook user and would like to keep up to
Casa do Comer and Charlotte McCormack for
date with ID the Leopard Shark then just type
hosting another fantastic quiz night.
ID the Leopard Shark into the search engine
on Facebook.

Thanks
A huge thank you to everyone who has helped support and develop the project so far. The team at Marine
Megafauna, All Out Africa and Swansea University. Dive centres, Peri Peri, Liquid and Tofo Scuba in Tofo, Barra
Reef Divers, Zavora Marine Lab, GOZO Azul in Ponta and Coral Divers in Sodwana Bay. THANK YOU!