In the bid to find a Covid-19 vaccine wildlife experts claim half a million sharks could be slaughtered for the much anticipated jab.
Squalene, a natural oil made in the liver of sharks, is used medicine and is also used as an adjuvant to increase the effectiveness of a vaccine.
It is also being used in trial vaccines for the coronavirus. If a drug passes that contains squalene and goes into production across the world conservationist group Shark Allies believe around 250,000 sharks will need to be slaughtered to provide one dose for each person.
That figure doubles and becomes more dire if people need two shots instead of one to fully vaccinate against Covid-19. Stefanie Brendl, founder and executive director of Shark Allies, said: