A basking shark off Inishowen
Donegal certainly isn’t “basking” in its Spring weather if Donegal’s most famous visitor is anything to go by.
The freezing weather conditions suffered in recent weeks means that the giant Basking Sharks off Donegal’s coast have failed to arrive.
This time last year there had been more than 21 sightings of the giant creatures off the coastline – many off Inishowen.
But to date there has not been ONE sighting of the creatures.
Last year’s first sighting was on February 15th.
Ireland’s Basking Shark Project is based in Donegal and is managed by wildlife ranger Emmett Johnston.
The reason for the sharks’ disappearance is simple – the cold.
Despite their huge size, basking sharks, which can grow to the size of a double-decker bus, only eat plankton.
Because water temperatures are still well below the average for this time of year, there is still a serious lack of plankton is waters of Donegal.
However the forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures will rise up to 12 degrees which may see conditions suitable for a return of the huge sea creatures.