Blacktip reef shark

It gets its name from the black spots at the tips of its fins. Its brownish body has two whitish stripes on each side. It is most commonly found in shallow waters near the shore, either in groups or alone. At high tide, it also ventures into mangrove forests. One of the species’ unique characteristics is its ability to survive for extended periods in freshwater, allowing it to enter rivers. It is viviparous, giving birth to 2–4 offspring per litter, each 40–50 cm long. It hunts alone or in groups. Its diet consists of fish, crabs, and squid. It generally does not attack humans, but there have been reported cases where it has bitten fishermen holding struggling prey in the water. It is a popular target of the shark fin trade.
One of the unacceptable consequences of the shark fin trade is that fishermen cut off the fins of sharks while they are still alive, then throw the maimed, worthless bodies back into the sea. There, the animals die a long, agonizing death. Fortunately, people in developed countries are increasingly rejecting such practices, and international organizations are successfully fighting to end this unnecessary cruelty.