Corkscrew Killers Wine Challenge - Gauntlet Picked Up in U.K

Our Transoceanic Wine Challenge to U.K researchers working on the Corkscrew Killer Mystery has been picked up this week.

With a twist.

From an undisclosed and secret research lab location in the U.K this morning:

Hi Shark Divers,

Well, you have thrown the gauntlet and we have picked it up! Good idea!

We will keep you informed of any progress we make. One issue you might consider is whether there are two different causes in the two areas. We have always agreed that some of the Canadian animals were definitely taken by sharks, without any doubt.

We do not believe any of the UK seals were and we very strongly suspect that some of the Canadian seals were not, either. Just want to make absolutely clear where we are right now, with nothing hiding behind curtains to be revealed in the future!

All the best and thanks for the continued interest, it really helps us!

With a bottle of fine wine at stake we're pretty sure The Corkscrew Killer is in fact largely a shark based phenomenon based on the two images presented in this post. The first image is Sable Island, Canada and a fresh kill from 2002/3.

The second image here is purported to be from a recent 2010 Corkscrew Killer death in the U.K.

The similarities are striking with only the fat layer being removed from both animals and a head to mid thorax spin as the Corkscrew Killer removes the fat leaving behind exposed rib and lean muscle tissue.

But what of the U.K teams admission that some but not all of Sable Islands Corkscrewed seals are taken by sharks?

Curious indeed, making the Corkscrew Killer Mystery an enduring one and begging the question, what mechanical variables exist on both the shores of the U.K and the extremely remote Sable Island?

Time for the reveal. Apparently the U.K team is close to providing the proof of the Corkscrew Killers origins in the U.K.

A signed bottle of 2005 Floodplain Proprietors Red wine from Napa Valley in California awaits their findings....or perhaps not.

Further reading Corkscrew Killer Blog.

Corkscrew Killers - U.K Ducts vs Greenland Sharks

There's an ongoing Battle Royal between U.K and Canadian researchers with completing theories over corkscrew deaths of seals.

Canadian researcher Zoe Lucas who works on Sable Island has conducted an eight-year study of "corkscrew" seal injuries.

She maintains Greenland Sharks are capable of inflicting such wounds.

However, scientists at the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at the University of St Andrews, U.K have ruled out the possibility of the deaths being caused by sharks. They claim mechanical ducts are causing these wounds.

Having a shark blog that goes back over three years allows us to cover the stranger side of sharks and this enduring predatory mystery.

Underwater Thrills Corkscrew Killer Timeline

April 26 2008 The Mystery

August 8 2008 More from Sable

August 17 2010 UK Corkscrew Killer

August 20 2010 Sharks Ruled Out

August 25 2010 Canadian Researchers Say Shark

As we posted last week, "unless the same set of mechanical variables is present on the remote Sable Island in Canada, their efforts (U.K) leave much to be desired as does the removal of a biological answer to the mystery of the Corkscrew Killer in the U.K"

The Challenge

Underwater Thrills is officially offering a fine bottle (signed) of 2005 Floodplain Proprietor Red from Napa Valley, California to any U.K researcher who can prove without a doubt that the Corkscrew Killer is in fact a man made object or machine.


Further reading Corkscrew Killer Blog.

Mysterious 'corkscrew' kills dozens of seals on east coast

The Corkscrew mystery is back and we're not saying its a shark that is causing all the seal damage we're just saying is all.

Almost a decade after first reports of corkscrew seal deaths by researchers on the East coast not much is known about dead seals that wash ashore with a corkscrew pattern missing from the fat layer surrounding them.

And now dead seals are washing ashore in Britain as well, cue the mystery music please.

As a lot of production companies crawl through this blog trolling for ideas (we know you do), here's one that would make a great Shark Week 2011 episode and you may have it with our blessings:

Corkscrew Killers

We happen to have the show treatment already written out, the dive sites picked, and the research contact list...that's if you want it of course.


Further reading Corkscrew Killer Blog.

Corkscrew Killers Wine Challenge - GEERG Weighs In

If you want to know about the mysterious world of the Greenland Shark look no further then the fine researchers over at GEERG.


The mission of GEERG is to study the Greenland shark and other northern shark species in their natural environment. The results of our work are made available to the scientific community and to the general public, in particular to divers, academic institutions, schools and museums. Sharks are crucial to the world ocean's equilibrium.

As the prime suspect in the evolving Corkscrew Killer mystery in the U.K, the Greenland Sharks reputation might be misinterpreted, says Jeffrey Gallant, who wrote an Op Ed on the mystery back in June.

The Op Ed is a great read from a front line research team but we're still not convinced the notorious Corkscrew Killer is in fact anything but a shark.

The offer of a fine bottle of California wine still stands for proof of man made object(s) causing corkscrewed seals deaths in the U.K and Canada.

Corkscrew Killers Wine Challenge - Slam Dunk?

There's a fine bottle of wine waiting at our offices for researchers in the U.K to provide "proof" that dead seals washing up along coastlines are not being killed by sharks.

Meanwhile a growing chorus in the media are agreeing with our take that these unfortunate seals are the product of natural predation.

More Corkscrew Killer media this week from Fife in the U.K:

AN East Neuk man thinks he may have solved the mystery as to why dozens of dead seals have been found washed up on the Fife coast.

Donald Low, the relief harbour master at Pittenweem, contacted the Mail to say he thinks there may be a vicious shark on the prowl after a number of the mammals were found with mysterious cuts.

'The Seal Ripper' focused on the unexplained deaths of seals, which were found with 'corkscrew like cuts' near a remote Atlantic island. Whilst filming the programme its makers discovered they were actually being killed by the Greenland Shark, which can grow to 24ft long.

Normally a native of Greenland and Iceland the sharks are thought to be moving into shallower waters in a desperate bid to find food.

Complete Post.