Endangered shark spotted off Rio's iconic Ipanema beach
A rare, endangered species of shark was sighted in the iconic waters of Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema Beach on March 23, 2025 boosting experts’ hopes for marine biodiversity preservation in the South American nation. A veteran scuba diver happened to see a shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) between Ipanema and the Cagarras Islands, marking the first sighting of this rare shark alive in an urban area in Brazil, according to a statement from the Sea Urban Institute. The IUCN Red List classified the species as endangered in 2018. The shortfin mako is considered the world's fastest shark, reaching burst swimming speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph), according to data from the Florida Museum. The mako is highly sought commercially for human consumption, and it was featured in Ernest Hemingway’s novel, 'The Old Man and the Sea,' the museum reported.
REUTERS/MACAU DIVE
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