A juvenile tiger shark was released back into the wild yesterday after a week-long rehabilitation stint at the Bermuda Aquarium.

The shark was brought to the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) by a local fisherman, who caught the fish by hook and line off the oil docks in St. George's.

BAMZ collection officer Chris Flook said: "It appears female tiger sharks often come inshore at this time of year to pup. This little guy was only a few days old when he was caught last week."

Initially, the tiger shark did well in BAMZ's quarantine tank. It was fed squid, anchovies, and special vitamins for sharks called SeaTabs.

A fish hook was removed from its lower jaw and the wound eventually healed. After six days in rehab the shark began to show signs that it was ready to return to its natural habitat.

On June 8 the shark was moved to a temporary staging pen in Harrington Sound to allow it more space to swim.

After several visual examinations, Curator of the Aquarium and Zoo, Dr. Ian Walker, determined the shark was in good health and should be returned to the wild. The animal was transported to deep water off the North Shore and released.

"When we placed it in the water it took a moment to orient itself, briefly turned on its side and looked directly at us, and then it quickly swam down and away," said Mr. Flook.