Seven nurse hound shark pups were released into the sea in Cirkewwa this morning by the National Aquarium and Sharklab Malta.  The pups had been rescued from the womb of their dead mother, who was on sale at the fish market.

Volunteers from Sharklab Malta, an NGO, regularly visit the fish market to find pregnant sharks caught by fishermen.  The eggs are removed and they are hatched and nursed at the National Aquarium. 

This was the second such release and follows the release of three nurse hound shark, which in Maltese are known as Gattarell Tar-Rukkal, pups last February.  

The nurse hound species is harmless to humans and grow approx to one meter in length, lives in deep water and feeds on small crabs, fish and squid.