Jaw-Dropping: Uncover the Mysterious Vanishing Act of Six Bull Sharks from an Australian Golf Course

Avoiding water hazards is crucial for golfers as it can determine their success or failure. However, at a golf course in Australia, the stakes were even higher as it meant the difference between survival and tragedy. Located in Queensland, Carbrook Golf Club held a unique distinction with its membership - six bull sharks that had made the water their home.

From their mysterious arrival to their devastating disappearance 17 years later, this is the tale of the sports most hazardous water hazard.

Arrival

Located approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) away from the Pacific Ocean, there is a lake residing within a landlocked golf course. At first glance, one might assume that this would be too far of a distance for any fish to swim. However, the bull shark is known for exploring a variety of habitats.

Recognized by various names such as river shark, freshwater whaler, estuary whaler, and swan river whaler, the bull shark's versatility becomes evident. Although originally found in warm and tropical waters across the globe, these sharks possess specialized organs that allow them to adapt to different environments. Their ability to retain salt enables them to navigate freshwater areas that would prove fatal for other shark species due to sodium loss.

The stocky-built, blunt-nosed sharks in the Logan River, located between Brisbane and Gold Coast, were not a surprise to locals in the 1990s. Nor were the occurrences of severe flooding.

Severe flooding opened up a route for the sharks to cross from the river (left) to the course's lake.

Carbrook Golf Club, known for its pleasant climate, has unfortunately experienced multiple instances of flooding since its founding in 1978. This includes notable occurrences in 1991, 1995, and 1996.

During the last three instances, the heavy rainfalls were of such magnitude that the land bridge, spanning approximately 100 meters, which separated the river from the converted sand mine that formed a lake adjacent to the 14th hole, was completely submerged. Within this timeframe, a new pathway was created, and it was amidst these temporary openings that six bull sharks stealthily entered unexplored territory.

However, as the land bridge gradually dried up and retook its original shape, the entrance closed abruptly behind them, sealing off their access. For 17 years, this pathway remained inaccessible until 2013, when a subsequent destructive flooding event reshaped a route back to the river.

Carbrooks Nessie

Towards the end of the century, whispers began to trickle around Carbrooks fairways - all originating from the 14th green.

Reports of loud splashes and the sighting of large, mysterious shapes beneath the surface of the lake, along with dismissed claims of a tall dorsal fin cutting through the water, gave rise to the legend of "The Carbrook Shark" – Australia's equivalent of legendary creatures like Bigfoot or the Yeti. Carbrook's general manager, Scott Wagstaff, compared the phenomenon to the famous lake-dwelling mythical beast, the Loch Ness monster.

"It seemed possible but there wasnt enough truth to it at that point."

The presence of bull sharks (pictured, 2012) at Carbrook was something of an urban legend in the 1990s.

Courtesy Scott Wagstaff

Until the early 2000s, the Courier Mail, based in Brisbane, made folklore become reality by publishing a photograph of one of the sharks, Wagstaff remembered. However, even after years of playing at the club, Wagstaff had never witnessed the sharks himself when he began working there in 2010.

Motivated by his curiosity, Wagstaff decided to explore the lake with his camera and some meat. Almost immediately after the bait touched the water, a shark promptly emerged.

After being shocked, Wagstaff quickly captured some photographs and recorded a brief video on his phone to share online. Despite acknowledging its poor quality, the internet embraced the footage eagerly. The viral YouTube video has now accumulated over 2.3 million views thus far.

Media interest skyrocketed as the club wholeheartedly embraced its formidable inhabitants.

The club's logo proudly depicted a bull shark, and their youth program was aptly named the Junior Shark Academy. Feedings became a thrilling spectacle at tournaments and corporate events. One exceptional wedding in 2009 featured all six sharks simultaneously, leaving an indelible memory for Wagstaff.

Despite Wagstaff's fondness for the sharks, he hesitated to refer to them as pets. However, he did affectionately name one "Patch" due to its unique marking on its back.

In comparison to the crocodiles and snakes found on other courses in the country, Carbrooks sharks required very little effort to care for. The only precautions taken were the placement of warning signs around the lake and the refusal of any business from individuals hoping to retrieve golf balls from the course's lakes to sell.

"Its just not worth the few grand a year we get for a contract to put someones life at risk," Wagstaff said.

There was no hope of getting your ball back if it found the water at Carbrook.

Courtesy Scott Wagstaff

Unprecedented

Fascination spread far beyond Australian borders, piquing the interest of one shark-loving scientist and researcher based at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany.

Dr. Peter Gausmann's research on the Carbrook sharks, entitled "Determining the Dominant Predator in the Pond," was published in the Marine and Fishery Sciences journal in August 2023. The study revealed that the sharks' ability to thrive in their prolonged stay in the lake provides valuable insights into the remarkable adaptability of bull sharks.

Despite the absence of staff feeding the sharks, the abundance of fish, including mullets, tarpons, and snappers, in the 700-meter long, 380-meter wide, and 15-meter deep lake ensured that hunger was not a concern for the sharks.

Gausmann determined that in order to satisfy their energy requirements, the sharks would have to devour 500 kilograms of fish annually – equivalent to 0.44% of their body weight each day. Confirming their growth, observations indicated that the sharks had developed into a robust size range of 1.8 to 3 meters by 2013.

Carbrook golf club general manager Scott Wagstaff captured this image of a bull shark swimming near the edge of a lake at the course in April 2011.

Courtesy Scott Wagstaff

Only twice before had bull sharks been recorded surviving for years in isolated bodies of water, according to Gausmann, yet none had ever lasted so long.

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In the 1980s, a group of bull sharks managed to thrive in Panama's freshwater Lake Bayano for at least four years. Similarly, another group of bull sharks became trapped in South Africa's high salinity Lake St. Lucia in 2002 and survived there for a remarkable decade. The duration of their stay, spanning at least 17 years in low-salinity waters, which accounts for more than half of a bull shark's lifespan, was without precedent.

"This unprecedented phenomenon has proven, for the very first time, the remarkable endurance of bull sharks in these low-salinity surroundings," stated Gausmann in his CNN interview.

"The research has demonstrated that bull sharks possess an astonishing capacity to dwell in freshwater settings like lakes and rivers without any discernible limitations. In fact, it is plausible - even in theory - that they could inhabit these habitats for their entire lifespan."

Vanished

Sadly for Gausmann and Carbrook, the true extent of their survivability remains unknown.

It has been eight years since the last sighting of a shark in the lake, leaving Gausmann puzzled by their disappearance.

Following the 2013 floods, the frequency of sightings significantly declined, raising concerns that some sharks may have either returned to the river or perished due to the storm. Only two shark deaths were confirmed, with one discovered floating on the surface and the other being a victim of illegal fishing.

After the fishing incident, Wagstaff, who had previously witnessed over 100 sightings of healthy sharks without any signs of illness, observed their presence only briefly. Gausmann dismisses the possibility of a "natural" cause for the remaining sharks' deaths, such as sodium loss or anatomical failures, as he believes their adaptability would have prevented such occurrences. Consequently, he posits that further illegal fishing is the most probable explanation for their sudden disappearance. Regardless of the cause, the club deeply feels the absence of the sharks.

"You can't resist the temptation - strolling beside the lake, your eyes fixated, anxious to catch even a fleeting sight of a fin breaching the water," remarked Wagstaff.

"The members relished the fact that their golf course was an exceptional sanctuary, with sharks as its distinguishing feature; they wholeheartedly embraced it."

"Wed love to see them again."

Carbrook yearns to see sharks one day cross over from the Logan River and repopulate the course's lake.

Courtesy Carbrook Golf Club

Last year, the area experienced the largest flood ever recorded, causing the course to be submerged, according to Wagstaff. Despite the financial devastation and two-month closure of the club, there was speculation that the flood may have brought new sharks into the lake, offering hope for repopulation.

However, it remains uncertain, and Carbrook is already making preparations for a future without its mascot. The club has devised plans to fill in the lake and construct a new course within the next ten years. As part of this process, all marine life, including any potential sharks, will be relocated to other bodies of water.

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Regardless of whether Wagstaff ever catches sight of another fin in the lake or not, he will always hold a special place in his heart for "Patch" and the rest of the guests who aided him in conquering his fears. Previously terrified of the ocean because of sharks, Wagstaff recently embarked on a scuba diving adventure in the reefs of the Sunshine Coast to have a firsthand experience with some magnificent grey nurse sharks.

"There is a popular belief that sharks, particularly bull sharks, are aggressive due to their interaction with humans in specific environments such as canals, creeks, and rivers," commented Wagstaff.

"However, having personally witnessed their elegance and beauty up close, I now find them incredibly captivating, particularly the bull shark."

"Theyre capable, so adaptive, and they are seriously beautiful when youre a few feet away. Its an incredible shark."