Tonga – or the Kingdom of Tonga – consists of 171 islands, 45 of which are inhabited by people. Naturally, as an island nation with lots of open waters, there are several species of sharks. Commonly seen sharks include the blue shark, the bull shark, and the silky shark.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Tonga
| Species | Maximum
Size |
Aggressiveness |
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 |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 10-13 feet | Highly 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 Tonga >>
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in Tonga?
There have been several shark attacks in Tonga, with the most recent one being a non-fatal incident that took place in 2012. 29-year-old Kylie Maguire suffered injuries to the buttocks and thighs from a possible attack by a bull shark.
2. Can you interact with whale sharks in Tonga?
While there are facilities to swim with whales, there aren’t many places to interact with whale sharks in Tonga.
