King of the seas: Scientists will test the body of a Greenland shark to see if the rare fish that washed up in Cornwall and can live up to 500 years was alive when Henry VIII was on the throne
- Greenland shark was spotted at Newlyn Harbour, Penzance, on Sunday
- Species has longest lifespan of all vertebrate species at up to 500 years
- Shark was washed back out to sea before charity staff could reach its body
- Crew from firm Mermaid Pleasure Trips found shark’s body again on Wednesday
By Harry Howard, History Correspondent For Mailonline
Published: 13:48 GMT, 16 March 2022 | Updated: 17:26 GMT, 16 March 2022
The body of a rare shark that may have been born when King Henry VIII was on the throne has been found off the coast of Cornwall.
The Greenland shark, which has the longest known lifespan of all vertebrate species at between 250 and 500 years, was spotted by a walker on a beach at Newlyn Harbour near Penzance, on Sunday.
Staff from local charity the Cornwall Wildlife Trust were contacted and arrived on the beach within an hour, but the tide had come in and washed the shark’s body back out to sea.
This sparked an urgent appeal to search for the shark.
A crew from tourist firm Mermaid Pleasure Trips found the animal’s body again on Wednesday and took it ashore.
Although experts have not yet carried out a post-mortem examination to get a firm idea of its age, the shark could conceivably been born during Henry VIII’s time as King, from 1509 to 1547.
The body of a rare shark that may have been born when King Henry VIII was on the throne has been found off the coast of Cornwall. The Greenland shark, which has the longest known lifespan of all vertebrate species at between 250 and 500 years, was spotted by a walker on a beach at Newlyn Harbour near Penzance, on Sunday
Staff from local charity the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s were contacted and arrived on the beach within an hour, but the tide had come in and washed the shark’s body back out to sea. A crew from Mermaid Pleasure Trips found the animal’s body again on Wednesday and took it ashore
Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network thanked the crew for their efforts.
They said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to update you that the superb crew from Mermaid Pleasure Trips, Penzance, Trev and Kingsley, this evening found and brought ashore the dead Greenland shark which previously stranded on Sunday and then washed back out to sea.
‘Well well done Trev and Kingsley you complete legends!’
Greenland sharks are native to the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans.
While they can be found in deep waters around the UK the Marine Conservation Society says it is very rare for humans to come across them in British waters.
Although experts have not yet carried out a post-mortem examination to get a firm idea of its age, the shark could conceivably been born during Henry VIII’s time as King, from 1509 to 1547
Prior to the new discovery, there has only ever been one other Greenland shark found in UK waters – in 2013. This shark which was also dead.
Marine Strandings Network said the shark will now undergo a post mortem by a vet pathologist as part of an investigation into the strandings of sea mammals, which also include dolphins and whales.
The Cetaceans Strandings Investigation Programme coordinates the investigation of all whales, dolphins and porpoises, marine turtles and basking sharks that strand around the UK coastline.
A spokesman for Mermaid Pleasure Trips, said: ‘Well yesterday evening turned into quite the eventful trip for the crew onboard the Vanessa Jane.
‘A Greenland shark has the longest known lifespan of all vertebrate species estimated to be between 250 and 500 years.
‘Cast your minds back in time a few hundred years.
‘Around about the time Henry the VIII was getting bored of his first wife this shark was just being born.
Greenland sharks are native to the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. While they can be found in deep waters around the UK the Marine Conservation Society says it is very rare for humans to come across them in British waters. Above: The shark is seen being lifted in the air by a fork lift truck after being found for the second time
‘The crew managed to safely get a tow established with the shark and bring the shark gently back into the harbour.
‘It was then handed over to the team at Marine Strandings Network to be sent off for a Post Mortem to hopefully establish the facts and figures about this gracious granddad/grandma shark.’
In 1522, King Henry was 13 years into his marriage to first wife Catherine of Aragon.
In 1533, he had his marriage to the Spaniard declared null and void so he could marry Anne Boleyn, whom he later beheaded.
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