def shards(self):
        """
        Retrieves information about the shards in the current remote database.

        :returns: Shard information retrieval status in JSON format
        """
        url = '/'.join((self.database_url, '_shards'))
        resp = self.r_session.get(url)
        resp.raise_for_status()

        return response_to_json_dict(resp)
Retrieves information about the shards in the current remote database.

        :returns: Shard information retrieval status in JSON format