By Vicki Patterson
Sharks have a reputation for being man-eaters. Their huge size, appearance and sharp teeth scare people, and their fame from movies like Jaws really doesn’t help matters.
Shark encounters do indeed occur, and the media loves to sensationalist them, but they are rare and, statistically, sharks pose very little threat to humans.
This is especially true if you understand and respect their natural behaviours and instincts.
Sharks are wild animals that don’t naturally prey on humans. When attacks do occur, they are generally out of curiosity. They are investigating what is splashing in their environment, seeing whether or not it is food rather than deliberately hunting.
If you are in shark habitat, there is a risk of coming into contact with them, but you can reduce the likelihood by taking a few simple precautions.
For example, always stay in groups, avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active and avoid wearing shiny jewellry that can resemble the sheen of fish scales.
Why We Love Sharks
Sharks are at the top of the food chain in virtually every part of every ocean. In that role, they keep populations of other fish healthy and in proper proportion for their ecosystem.
They tend to eat very efficiently, going after the old, sick, or slower fish in a population that they prey upon.
Some also scavenge the seafloor to feed on dead carcasses.
Scientists consider them to be ‘keystone’ species, meaning that removing them would cause the whole structure to collapse!
Shark conservationist are on a mission to protect and educate about their rapidly declining population through educational outreach sources like ours.
Please join us October 9, 2022 at 10:30 am as we listen to David McGuire give a very enlightening and educational talk.
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