1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Israel-Hamas warUkraineOktoberfest
Politics

France: La Réunion: Shark attack

January 29, 2014

The French holiday island La Réunion is in a state of alarm because of shark attacks. In the past two years alone there have been five deadly shark attacks on the island in the Indian ocean.

https://p.dw.com/p/1AzFy

Now the island administration wants to "remove" about 80 sharks. They are to be killed. The plan has triggered a heated debate, with environmentalists on the one side and the tourist industry and many local residents on the other. Bull sharks up to 3.5 meters in length, a species that is considered responsible for many attacks on humans around the world, are not allowed to be sold as food on La Réunion. It's suspected that's the reason their numbers have increased considerably.