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KD Country: Close Encounters With Sharks

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Jun 4, 2009 6:55 pm US/Eastern

KD Country: Close Encounters With Sharks

Reporting
Dave Crawley
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― What is it about sharks?

Well, there's the teeth. Of course.

But those eyes. That empty gaze reveals...nothing.

Our fascination with these deep sea carnivores is universal.

"These guys actually came from Ocean City, Maryland, would you believe."
Aquatic life curator Allan Marshall says the new additions at Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium - eight sand tiger sharks - have already captivated the Aquarium crowd.

"You can see the kids walking through the tunnel here," Marshall says. "Their eyes are just bugging out of their heads, looking in at these things. So, I think it's going to be a great attraction."

Four males, four females. Survival of the fittest begins in the mother's womb.

"They retain the eggs inside them," Marshall adds, "and the first one to hatch inside its mother will actually eat all its brothers and sisters. And that's how it gets its nourishment. And it's called intra-uterine cannibalism."

Another distinctive characteristic is their means of staying afloat. Every couple of weeks they'll pop to the surface, and swallow huge gulps of air into their stomachs. Not for breathing. They have gills for that. But to keep themselves afloat.

Sharks of all kinds are a dwindling species. Seventy million are killed by humans every year. But the guys in the tank at the zoo aren't the least bit interested in people.

But there are some exceptions.

"If you're silly enough to provoke one, like grab it by the tail or something stupid, yeah, they'll turn around and bite you," said Marshall.

But one little girl, staring wide-eyed at the sharks, needs no warning. "I just love sharks, but I really don't want to swim with them."

The grand opening of the sand tiger shark exhibit takes place Sunday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the PPG Aquarium.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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