Perth shark expert reveals what could have been behind dead southern eagle ray caught in Swan River

A Perth shark expert has revealed what he believes may have eaten half a stingray pulled ashore by a Swan River angler at the weekend.

Liam Kenny was enjoying a morning fish on Sunday when he hooked a southern eagle ray but when he finally reeled it in he found it had taken big bite marks out of it.

Graphic images of the emaciated ray were shared online, where many speculated the amateur fisherman had just shared the catch with a bull shark, which is known to frequent local waters.

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Murdoch University’s Adrian Gleiss looked at the pictures and leans towards this being the correct theory.

“It’s very hard to say, but it’s most likely a bull shark,” he told 7NEWS.com.au, adding “I wouldn’t rule out a bronze whaler”.

A marine expert believes that a bull shark most likely attacked this ray. Credit: Liam KennyLiam Kenny described it as “easily the craziest thing I’ve ever seen”. Credit: Liam Kenny

Based on the bite marks on the ray carcass, Dr Gleiss suggested the shark could have been up to 2m long.

“An eagle ray would have been a great meal for it,” he said.

Balga bricklayer Kenny described it as “easily the craziest thing I’ve ever seen”.

He initially feared for his gear after realizing he had hooked the ray and said his basic gear was more suitable for smaller fish.

Kenny ran his line, until he realized it had stopped. That’s when he pulled in his dead catch.

Dr Adrian Gleiss, pictured here with a bull shark, said it was probably a shark up to 2m long that was feasting on the ray. Credit: Provided/Dr Adrian Gleiss

He believed a bull shark filled up on the ray before leaving the scraps to him.

He took some photos of the remains and shared them online with the caption: “River monsters are real”.

“If that beam is 1m as mentioned, those bites are massive,” one person commented in response.

“I wouldn’t like to run into that thing in the water, that’s for sure.”

Another person estimated a “good 2m shark” was behind the large bite marks.

“Don’t think I’ll be messing around there any more,” they said.

Swan River shark enclosure

The photos emerged as Swan River bull shark survivor Cameron Wrathall spoke about the potential for a protective net to be installed during his discussions with the City of Melville.

“It will just enclose an area, a bit like the barriers they have on the coast, and it will make it a safer area for swimmers,” he said.

Wrathall suffered a broken hip and critical injuries when he was mauled by a 3m bull shark while swimming at Bicton’s Blackwall Reach on 14 January 2021.

It was the first attack in the river in 50 years.

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