When beachgoers contacted Sea Life Sydney Aquarium reporting a small shark stuck in Fairlight Rockpool, they were surprised to see the docile animal simply picked up and carried back to the ocean by wildlife rescue.
The thrilled onlookers and enthusiastic children, who had nicknamed the crested horn shark “Gerry”, watched it swim away to safety on Saturday afternoon after being stranded by low tide in the pool.
Emily Best, aquarist from the Sealife Sydney Aquarium, rescued a crested horn shark that was stuck in Fairlight Rockpool.Credit:Flavio Brancalone
Aquarium aquarist Emily Best, who freed the shark, said the animals commonly became stuck in ocean pools from big surf or high tides.
“It happens quite a lot, especially in the netted swimming areas and ocean pools, this is the main thing we respond to,” she said.
“Once they’re in, it’s very difficult for them to get out of there; generally it takes someone to actually take them out again.
“It’s usually the council calling us when they are draining or cleaning the pools.”
The crested horn shark is a shallow dwelling species often found in rocky areas of Sydney Harbor and is harmless to humans.
Best said the animals commonly became stuck in ocean pools from big surf or high tides.Credit:Flavio Brancalone
They are commonly seen during the winter because they will be mating and laying their eggs – which are a distinctive spiral shape – in the shallow, rocky waters.