By Bob McNeil
The school shark population of the Hauraki Gulf increased by eight today, when staff from Kelly Tarlton's released a group of pups they've been raising by hand.
Marine biologists were forced to step in, when the pups arrived prematurely during an attack on their mother by another shark.
They left like guppies being fished for in a pet shop. But the fish now have teeth, and they're headed for the Hauraki Gulf.
The eight school shark pups were born through a gash in their mother's side, after she was bitten by a larger shark last year.
Andrew Christie, of Kelly Tarlton's, says the pups were very vulnerable when they first found them.
“We pretty much provided an intensive care unit for premature sharks for a little while there. They doubled in weight and are ready to go,” he says.
The shark pups were released in the gulf this morning.
Mr Christie says there are many misconceptions about sharks.
“There's a lot of belief that every shark out here is a killer, the chances of anyone being attacked by sharks in general is so miniscule, it's unbelievable,” he says.
School sharks are included on list of threatened species.
Shark hunters kill 100 million every year - that's about three every second.
There are predictions now that many species are in danger of being wiped out.
Given all that, it was an emotional farewell for Mr Christie.
“While it's great to see them go, you also spend a lot of time really getting them going and that sort of stuff. They're out in the big wide world all by themselves now. Good luck to them,” he says.
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