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Animal sacrifice could spark shark attack
Reuters ^
| 5/12/05
| Reuters
Posted on 05/12/2005 6:02:35 PM PDT by wagglebee
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Blood from sheep butchered in a religious ritual at one of South Africa's busiest tourist beaches could tempt sharks toward bathers, an official warned Thursday.
A small group called the Healing Oracle has carried out such sacrifices on a beach in the eastern coastal city of Durban, media reported. Its leader Prophet Moses Michael said it was inspired by the Old Testament to help cure sick people.
But biologist Sheldon Dudley of the Natal Sharks Board, which aims to reduce attacks on humans, said the blood may attract sharks even though the beach is protected by nets.
"Putting blood or offal into the water is simply not sensible," he told Reuters. "A shark in the vicinity of the beach may come to investigate."
Shark nets have helped to reduce attacks in South Africa and Durban has not seen any major incident in recent years. But three or four people are attacked every year elsewhere off the country's coasts, Dudley said.
Animal protection officers said they were also investigating cruelty allegations around the sacrifices, and an official supervising the Durban beach said they were unacceptable.
"A beach is a public place and we can't have animals being sacrificed in front of visitors and children," the beach official told Durban's daily news.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: animalsacrifice; beaches; environment; religiousritual; sharks; southafrica
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"A beach is a public place and we can't have animals being sacrificed in front of visitors and children," the beach official told Durban's daily news. All that comes to mind is Sheriff Brody in "Jaws" yelling about closing the beach.
1
posted on
05/12/2005 6:02:35 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
To: wagglebee
2
posted on
05/12/2005 6:04:22 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
To: wagglebee
I was gonna ask who had the Jaws photo. :)
3
posted on
05/12/2005 6:06:13 PM PDT
by
writer33
("In Defense of Liberty," a political thriller, released in March. Buy it. I need new shoes. :))
To: wagglebee
We gotta get a bigger boat. :)
4
posted on
05/12/2005 6:06:50 PM PDT
by
writer33
("In Defense of Liberty," a political thriller, released in March. Buy it. I need new shoes. :))
To: writer33
You're going to need a bigger boat...
5
posted on
05/12/2005 6:07:04 PM PDT
by
WoodstockCat
(W2 !!! Four more Years!!)
To: wagglebee
But biologist Sheldon Dudley of the Natal Sharks Board, which aims to reduce attacks on humans, said the blood may attract sharks even though the beach is protected by nets. It would attact them. They may not be able to get through the nets but it would attract them.
6
posted on
05/12/2005 6:08:16 PM PDT
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(No, as a matter of fact, I don't have a heart.)
To: wagglebee; Lijahsbubbe; aculeus; dighton; martin_fierro; general_re; Tijeras_Slim; kingattax
Blood from sheep butchered in a religious ritual at one of South Africa's busiest tourist beaches could tempt sharks toward bathers, an official warned Thursday. Everybody outta the pool!
To: writer33
I was going to use the free chum to see what I could catch!!
8
posted on
05/12/2005 6:08:51 PM PDT
by
handy old one
(It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristotle)
To: handy old one
9
posted on
05/12/2005 6:09:52 PM PDT
by
writer33
("In Defense of Liberty," a political thriller, released in March. Buy it. I need new shoes. :))
To: wagglebee
"Putting blood or offal into the water is simply not sensible,"We call that "chumming".
To: Harmless Teddy Bear; aculeus; dennisw
Maybe the sacrifice Healing Oracle is performing, is really a two-step process.
To: wagglebee
To: writer33
Where did I put the large grill and bag of charcoal at??
13
posted on
05/12/2005 6:12:28 PM PDT
by
handy old one
(It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristotle)
To: wagglebee
14
posted on
05/12/2005 6:13:30 PM PDT
by
Nick Danger
(Honey, Intel wants to go outside)
To: handy old one
15
posted on
05/12/2005 6:15:48 PM PDT
by
writer33
("In Defense of Liberty," a political thriller, released in March. Buy it. I need new shoes. :))
To: writer33
16
posted on
05/12/2005 6:17:56 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
To: SquirrelKing
17
posted on
05/12/2005 6:19:05 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
To: wagglebee
The bunnies just fininshed War of The Worlds. Can't wait!
To: SquirrelKing
That was good stuff, SK. Thanks for the link.
19
posted on
05/12/2005 6:23:09 PM PDT
by
writer33
("In Defense of Liberty," a political thriller, released in March. Buy it. I need new shoes. :))
To: wagglebee
I had a great white , 12ft+ , almost climb in a 21ft. boat with me once. It wanted the yellowfin tuna I was catching on a handline real bad. It got the fish .....
20
posted on
05/12/2005 6:31:08 PM PDT
by
injin
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