Great white shark dies after just three days of being kept in Japanese aquarium

A great white shark has died after just three days in captivity in a Japanese aquarium. The 3.5m (11ft) shark, which was accidentally caught in a net on Tuesday, died early on Friday at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. It had appeared to be doing well, swimming with the other sharks but could not be revived after weakening and sinking to the bottom of its tank. The cause of death was under investigation but People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said keeping the shark in captivity was “cruel and wrong”.

The cause of death is clear: captivity. The shark never had to die like this

Jason Baker, PETA’s vice-president of international campaigns

The aquarium announced the rare successful exhibition of the species earlier this week. But 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. The captured shark, a male, was relatively small, had refused to eat any food since being caught. After it weakened, efforts to give it oxygen in a separate special tank failed.

Many visitors had asked us to exhibit the great white shark

Aquarium researcher Keiichi Sato

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