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German Woman Killed in Shark Attack Off Canary Islands

A Spanish Salvamento Maritimo (Sea Search and Rescue agency) vessel escorts a 'cayuco' boat with 28 migrants, arriving at La Restinga port on the Canary island of El Hierro, on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Antonio SEMPERE / AFP)
A Spanish Salvamento Maritimo (Sea Search and Rescue agency) vessel escorts a 'cayuco' boat with 28 migrants, arriving at La Restinga port on the Canary island of El Hierro, on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Antonio SEMPERE / AFP)
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German Woman Killed in Shark Attack Off Canary Islands

A Spanish Salvamento Maritimo (Sea Search and Rescue agency) vessel escorts a 'cayuco' boat with 28 migrants, arriving at La Restinga port on the Canary island of El Hierro, on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Antonio SEMPERE / AFP)
A Spanish Salvamento Maritimo (Sea Search and Rescue agency) vessel escorts a 'cayuco' boat with 28 migrants, arriving at La Restinga port on the Canary island of El Hierro, on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Antonio SEMPERE / AFP)

A German woman died after she was attacked by a shark while swimming beside her catamaran in high seas between Spain's Canary Islands and West Africa, a police spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The woman, aged 30, was travelling on a catamaran that had sailed southbound from Gran Canaria island on Sept. 14. She was attacked by a shark that bit off one of her legs, the police said.
Coastguards flew from Gran Canaria to the area, 514 kilometers (320 miles) south of the island, and evacuated her, but she died from the wound in the helicopter.
Even though a few shark species are large and aggressive enough to hunt animals the size of humans, actual shark attacks and fatalities are rare around the world. The Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File (ISAF) identified 14 shark-related fatalities around the world in 2023.
ISAF has recorded only six confirmed shark-related incidents in Spain's history.

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'Amphibious Mouse' among 27 New Species Discovered in Peru's Amazon

A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS
A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS
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'Amphibious Mouse' among 27 New Species Discovered in Peru's Amazon

A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS
A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS

An "amphibious mouse" with partially webbed feet that eats aquatic insects was among 27 new species discovered during a 2022 expedition to Peru's Amazon, according to Conservation International.

Scientists also discovered a spiny mouse, a squirrel, eight types of fish, three amphibians and 10 types of butterflies, Trond Larsen, head of Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program, told Reuters this week.

He added that another 48 species found by investigators were potentially new, but needed further study.

The new species were found in Alto Mayo, a protected area with several ecosystems, Indigenous territories and villages.

"Discovering so many new species of mammals and vertebrates is really incredible, especially in such a human-influenced landscape as Alto Mayo," Larsen said.

The expedition between June and July 2022 was made up of 13 scientists plus local technicians and members of Indigenous groups.

"It was really fantastic to work so closely with the Awajun people. They have extensive traditional knowledge about the forests, animals and plants they live side-by-side with," Larsen said.

Among the new species, Larsen highlighted the spiny mouse that has stiff fur, the amphibious mouse, and a dwarf squirrel that measures 14 cm (5.5 in).

"(The squirrel) fits so easily in the palm of your hand. Adorable and beautiful chestnut-brown color, very fast," Larsen said. "It jumps quickly and hides in the trees."

Another favorite discovery was the blob-headed fish, a type of armored catfish, he said.

A total of 2,046 species were recorded during the 38-day expedition using camera traps, bioacoustic sensors and DNA sampling. Among them, 49 were classified as threatened, including the yellow-tailed woolly monkey and the tree monkey.

Larsen said the discoveries reinforced the need to protect the area.

"Unless steps are taken now to safeguard these sites and help restore parts of the landscape ... there's a strong chance they won't persist in the long term," Larsen said.