Sydney - Hungry sharks are venturing up Australian rivers as drought reduces fresh water levels, forcing schools to warn children not to cool off in the local rivers.
"Once we were told of the shark sightings we informed our four schools. We warned children not to swim in the river," said Ian Northam, principal of Wingham High School near the Manning River in northern New South Wales state.
Australia is in the the grips of one of its worst droughts in 100 years. Fresh water levels in rivers have fallen and salt water is extending further inland, with declining stocks of river and estuary fish forcing sharks further upstream.
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Wingham is about 40km upstream on the Manning River, but a local fishermen spotted a bull shark in a small dam nearby - a popular swimming hole for locals.
'Some experts consider this shark to be the most dangerous in the world' Another fisherman last week hauled in an almost three-metre-long bronze whaler shark a few kilometres downstream from Wingham.
The New South Wales Sea Kayaker magazine warned of the risk of bull sharks in Australian rivers, saying that the creatures had been found in most Australian water systems.
"This shark is very, very dangerous. Some experts consider this shark to be the most dangerous in the world, even surpassing the Great White Shark," an article in the magazine stated.
The bull shark, which can measure up to four metres in length and weighs about 230kg, can survive in fresh water and saltwater and will eat almost anything.
Bull sharks have been blamed for several attacks on canoeists and kayakers on the upper reaches of Sydney harbour in recent years.
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