Despite being famed for its shark-infested beaches, there have not been many shark attacks in Somali waters. The infamous Zambezi river sharks were, in fact, bull sharks that swam upstream, drawn to the carcasses and intestines of camels dumped in the river’s waters.
Common species in Somalia include the bull shark, the blue shark, and several species of hammerheads and threshers.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Somalia
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
| Big Eye Thresher Shark | 11-16 feet | Not aggressive |
Blue Shark |
6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
Bull Shark |
7-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Great Hammerhead Shark | 15-20 feet | Highly aggressive |
Great White Shark |
11-16 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Harlequin Catshark | 1.4-1.5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 5-8 feet | Not aggressive |
Pelagic Thresher Shark |
13-18 feet | Not aggressive |
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark |
9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
Silky Shark |
7-10 feet | Highly aggressive |
Whale Shark |
18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Somalia >>
FAQs
1. Have there been fatal shark attacks in Somalia?
Currently, there have only been six shark attacks in Somali waters. However, four of those have been fatal.
