The Bull Shark is one of the few sharks that are potentially dangerous to people and is probably responsible for most of the shark attacks in and around Sydney Harbour.
The species is also the only widely distibuted shark that stays in fresh water for long periods of time to feed and breed. Females sometimes give birth in river mouths were the young will live for up to 5 years.
The Bull Shark has also been called the River Shark, Freshwater Whaler, Estuary Whaler and Swan River Whaler.