Family find dead baby shark washed up on beach in Blackpool
A family from Manchester holidaying in the resort for the half-term found the deceased shark yesterday morning (Wednesday, June 2).
Mum Jenny Fowler said her and her children went to investigate after they spotted seagulls frantically feasting on the beach.
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Hide AdAs they got closer, the gulls took off, revealing a small, partly-eaten baby shark around 40 inches long.
Jenny said her children excitedly searched the internet to identify the shark species, which they believe is a smooth hound-shark.
While they can grow up to 6ft 6inches (200cm), their usual maximum size is 4ft-5ft, with a weight of around 25lbs.
Did you know? The common smooth-hound shark will group in large numbers, like a pack of dogs. This is why they are called 'hounds'.
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Hide AdBut with an average birth length of just over 1ft (35cm), the shark found on Bispham beach is likely a baby which has found itself washed up on the sands.
This shallow water shark species is reportedly found more often on the south and western coasts of the British Isles, making these underwater visitors to the Lancashire coast an exciting discovery for Jenny and her family.
And the hound-sharks are not the only special marine visitors to the Blackpool coast this half-term.
On the same day as the Fowler family's shark discovery, a number of eagle-eyed residents reportedly caught sight of dolphins further up the shore at Starr Gate.
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Hide AdReports of the sightings were shared by Blackpool Council, who said 7 dolphins were spotted on Tuesday (June 1) and another 11 yesterday.
*Have you been lucky enough to spot any sharks or dolphins off the coast of Blackpool recently? If so, share your pictures or videos with our readers in our Facebook comments!
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