A Futian resident donated a 1.3-meter-long pet shark to Sea World at Xiaomeisha on Monday morning after the fish tank in her home became too small for the growing animal, yesterday's Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

Immediately after receiving the phone call from the woman surnamed Liu, Sea World sent employees to Liu's home. They carried the shark away using special transportation equipment and wearing gloves made of steel wires.

Liu bought two blacktip sharks from a pet shop three years ago at a cost of nearly 10,000 yuan (US$1,282.05). The bigger one, a female, grew in size at an amazing speed. The fish tank in which the two sharks were kept could barely hold the bigger shark, forcing Liu to donate it to Sea World, the Daily report said.

"It brought my family a lot of fun," Liu said. "We all agreed that we must find our beloved shark a nice home."

Blacktip sharks are ferocious but small in size, said an expert with Sea World surnamed Li. Wild blacktip sharks sometimes attack humans and become more ferocious when they detect the smell of blood, Li said.

Sharks are not listed as animals under protection, so it is not illegal to raise sharks. In recent years, a growing number of people have begun to keep blacktip sharks as pets. However, Li reminded shark owners to take extra care while handling the not-so-gentle animals.

The shark donated by Liu has been successfully transported to Sea World and will soon join other blacktip sharks, whitetip sharks, nurse sharks and bull sharks at Sea World after a short period of quarantine, the Daily report said. It is expected to welcome visitors during the Spring Festival holiday.

Editor: Donald