The Shark Spotters Safety Education Research Conservation (SSSERC) in Cape Town have issued the warning after four great white and bronze whaler sharks have been spotted at Cape beaches earlier this month.
According to SSERC, the recent spotting was around the False Bay area when their research team spotted a 2.2m white shark while on an expedition to tag bronze whalers sharks.
The SSERC said in a Facebook post that this was the first confirmed white shark sighting since March this year and only the sixth white shark that was spotted in False Bay in 2021.
“While we are very excited for this special sighting, it is also a reminder to water users to be aware that historically the spring/summer months have been the period with the highest white shark activity close to beaches,” the post read.
The SSERC went on to say that the white shark presence is still much lower than it has been in previous years, as these sporadic sightings show that white sharks are still present in the bay on occasion and water users should remember to follow shark safety advice and exercise appropriate caution when enjoying our oceans.
Could we be heading for a “Great White” Christmas?!
News just in from the field: our research team have spotted a 2.2m white shark while on an expedition to tag bronze whalers sharks in @MyFalseBay!
? Tsepo Mlambo#whitechristmas#BeSharkSmart
See: https://t.co/O0m08IBOUe pic.twitter.com/U1hErfxiKK
— Shark Spotters (@SharkSpotters) December 6, 2021
Meanwhile, Capetonians who are hoping to spend their days lounging in the sun this festive season might have to reconsider their plans as normal to above normal rainfall is expected to descend on the Western Cape and the rest of the country. According to IOL, the South African Weather Service have predicted “normal to above normal rainfall” in South Africa.
In a Seasonal Climate Watch report issued in September 2021, the weather service said that this is likely to take place throughout the early-summer (October November December) and mid-summer (December January February) seasons.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery