There appears to be a brand new story of a shark assault each month, a frequency that paints an image of menacing creatures beneath the ocean trying to find people. But consultants say that is merely not the case: Shark assaults are literally a minuscule downside worldwide.
The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack Files investigated 137 alleged shark-human interactions in 2021. Of these, simply 73 throughout all the world have been deemed unprovoked shark bites, most of which occurred within the U.S., whereas 39 of the incidents have been thought-about provoked, which means that the human purposefully interacted with the shark indirectly.
But as Yannis Papastamatiou, a professor at Florida International University who research shark habits, defined, that is nonetheless a really small quantity.
“If you put that into perspective as to how many people are in the water, how many sharks are in the water … you really realize how unlikely it is that you’re going to get bitten by a shark,” he informed CBS News. “… It’s just a numbers game. And the fact is, the relative probability is extremely low.”
Compared to the frequency of different kinds of accidents and animal bites, Kayleigh Grant, founding father of Kaimana Ocean Safari in Hawaii, informed CBS News that folks “really shouldn’t be scared of sharks.” A generally cited 1979 research discovered 892 human bites reported in New York City in 1977 – 63 instances extra than worldwide shark bites that very same yr. Even immediately, the Cleveland Clinic says that about 250,000 human bites are reported nationwide every year, almost 3,500 instances greater than shark bites.
“You are more likely to be bitten by a New Yorker than a shark. That is a true statistic,” Grant stated. “So we should truly be more scared of our own kind than the beautiful sharks in the ocean.”
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Why do sharks assault?
Incidents through which a shark bites a human are generally considered a basic habits of all sharks, Papastamatiou stated, however in actuality, it might occur for a variety of causes – most of which don’t embody consuming. Even if a shark is trying to find meals, a chunk at a human is commonly a case of mistaken identification or curiosity.
“Obviously, even an investigative nibble from a white shark could be fatal just due to the size of these animals, but even with white sharks, the mortality rate is not very high amongst victims,” Papastamatiou stated. “…It is extremely rare for someone to be completely consumed by a large shark.”
Grant informed CBS News that shark assault tales are tragic, however individuals should perceive the ocean is sharks’ house and the animals are avoiding people most of the time.
“Anytime we enter it, we should sort of anticipate that there is a possibility we could encounter a shark,” she stated. “Most of the time – 99.9% of the time – sharks are just swimming by people. They are not looking at a person saying, ‘That is my food.’ Unfortunately, they don’t get the credit that they deserve every time they just correctly identify what we are and continue swimming along.”
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How are you able to stop an assault?
Even with shark assaults being a comparatively low prevalence, they’re all the time a chance, consultants say. But there are some preemptive measures beach-goers can take to reduce the chance.
First and foremost, individuals ought to test their environment. If the water is murky, it will probably make it harder for each you and the shark to accurately determine one another, and if there was lately a giant storm that resulted in a variety of particles or triggered animals to die, it might additionally appeal to extra sharks to the realm. The swimming spot itself must also be thought-about – steer clear of areas the place persons are fishing.
Secondly, Grant stated it is essential for individuals to “look alive” as they play, swim or surf within the ocean. You must also look “purposeful” in your actions, notably for those who’re swimming, and it is helpful to put on a masks or goggles so you possibly can higher survey the realm round you.
“Not so much that you’re splashing or flailing or look panicky, but just kind of keep yourself moving a bit,” Grant stated. “You will look like just that much harder of a target, that much more of a harder prey to catch.”
If you do see a shark, a very powerful factor to do is “keep your eye” on it, Papastamatiou stated.
“Don’t turn your back on it, even if you’ve decided it’s time to get out of the water,” he stated. “…The golden rule is make that animal aware that you know it’s there.”
If you are diving, it is also helpful to take care of eye contact with the shark, Grant added. And you probably have fins or a surfboard or one thing of the like, place it in between you and the animal.
“Just giving them that eye contact is the best way for you to look like an equal apex predator to a shark,” she stated. ” They are actually really intimidated by eye contact.”
The actual hazard
When individuals consider sharks, they usually consider the 1975 movie “Jaws,” an award-winning film a few seaside city seemingly hunted by an awesome white. That film is claimed to be chargeable for igniting concern among the many plenty, which, coupled with headlines of shark assaults, has vilified the ocean creature that’s essential in sustaining steadiness in marine ecosystems.
But the reality is, people pose a a lot larger danger to them than vice versa.
“I just want people to understand that sharks are not out to get us. They are not like what has been portrayed in ‘Jaws,'” Grant stated. Even “Jaws” director Steven Spielberg himself informed the BBC that he “truly regrets” how his film influenced individuals to concern sharks.
Sharks are additionally notoriously hunted for his or her fins, part of their our bodies that’s usually utilized in specialty cuisines however is usually obtained by slicing off a shark’s fin and leaving its physique to sink to the underside of the ocean. A 2013 research discovered that people kill an estimated 100 million sharks yearly – an quantity that far surpasses the variety of shark bites yearly – though the particular causes for these killings aren’t specified.
“Sharks are really, really misunderstood,” Grant stated. “…They’re not the enemy. They’re something that we should be working with to help keep the ecosystem healthy and in balance.”
