Sharks - How Dangerous Are They?
Although the Hollywood image of sharks has left many people afraid of the water, it is important to be aware of the fact that sharks are not seeking out humans as prey. In fact, shark attacks on humans usually only result in a single bite and they would prefer to eat their typical food rather than humans.
The hunter satisfies its voracious appetite with seals, fish and other animals found in the sea. To capture these animals it has developed the necessary qualities of speed, strength, agility and a mouth armed with many, many teeth. This is a prime reason we humans perceive them as so very frightening.
People are most likely to be in danger of a shark attack when they inadvertently mimic the behavior of a shark's prey. For example, a surfer who has swum far out from shore and is thrashing around, trying to get into position to ride a big wave, may seem like an injured seal to a shark. The surfer is has no idea that their behavior is attracting the shark. In a way, it's like a hapless swimmer who gets caught in a riptide and pulled out to sea. It's just an unfortunate coincidence.
Nevertheless, out of the millions of people who visit beaches each year, only about 12 are killed by sharks. Also, there are just about 90 shark attacks yearly, with many of them being just bumps or nudges, usually only leaving a bruise. Of course it is a tragedy whenever an accident occurs, but we must remember that these are accidents and not intentional actions on the part of sharks.
Strange though it may seem, falling coconuts actually cause 10 times as many injuries to humans as sharks do. The Tiger shark and the great white shark may be the most aggressive of sharks but they very rarely attack humans. You'll find yourself more at risk whilst you drive to the beach, bearing in mind that driving kills more than 40,000 people on the US each year.
It is only human to feel compassion for anyone who suffers a shark bite. However, one should also feel a similar sort of distress on behalf of all those sharks that will be slaughtered for vengeance. These creatures cannot comprehend the reason they are being tracked and murdered. Only humans can recognize the concept of punishment. Unless we eradicate them all, we are going to have to learn to live alongside them. We have certainly not achieved safety by attempting the former approach.
The Hollywood image of sharks has scared many people, yet these creatures are not actually seeking out humans as prey. They usually eat fish, seals, and other sea creatures, and will only mistake people as prey when they are mimicking the prey's behavior. Very few people get killed by these creatures each year and surprisingly, 10 times more injuries are caused by falling coconuts! The Tiger shark and the great white shark may be the most aggressive, but they infrequently attack humans. It is only human to feel compassion for those bitten by a shark; however we do need to learn to live alongside them.
Published April 13th, 2008
Filed in Environment