On May 12, 2011 the California Department of Fish & Game announced they were conducting additional necropsy's to determine the cause of death of more than 50 Leopard Sharks (Triakis semifasciata) that had washed up dead along Northern California beaches since April.
An initial necropsy found inflammation, internal bleeding and lesions in the brain, in addition to hemorrhaging from the skin. Bleeding was also observed around the tested female shark internal organs. It was believed the 50 sharks that washed up dead at Redwood Shores in Redwood City probably died a slow death.
A resident of the area, Catherine Greer, said she and her son tried to save several sharks by returning them to the water. She said; The sharks swam right back, thrashing their heads against the shore as if they were trying to commit suicide. A statement released by the city mentioned, "The pathologist is not drawing any conclusions until more examinations and all tests are performed." A bacterial study and microscopic tissue analysis are underway.
