Sharks are cold-blooded killers
[A lot of individuals believe that] sharks are intent on harming humans and will ‘assault’ as soon as our little finger touches the water,” explains shark scientist Blake Chapman, PhD, who has authored “Shark.
Shark Attacks: Legends, Confusions, and Human Fears
“. Yet, each year, millions of individuals swim near sharks and remain unaware of their presence for the majority of time. Only an extremely small number of people experience unfavorable interactions with sharks.” Actually, these 22 creatures pose much lesser risk than commonly perceived.
more dangerous to humans than sharks
.
They acquire a preference for consuming human meat.
Experts concur that many unexpected shark bites often appear to be investigative—in other words, “What’s this here? Could it be food?” Species such as great white sharks, bull sharks, and tiger sharks, which prey on seals and other sea mammals, tend to be large and more assertive. These encounters are typically the result of their curious nature probing potential meals.
one most prone to biting people
According to the National Geographic Society, as the National Ocean Service suggests, sharks have been evolving for hundreds of millions of years, long before humans came into existence; hence, we’re
not included in what they naturally eat
. The majority of sharks primarily feed on smaller marine life such as fish and squid. To provide further assurance, consider these additional points:
comforting—and fascinating—facts about sharks
.
Female sharks require males to reproduce.
Some female sharks possess the
power of parthenogenesis
—The capability to fertilize their own eggs and produce offspring without a male shark. This phenomenon is typically observed in plants and insects such as wasps, ants, and bees.
Dolphins scare sharks.
You might have come across the belief that spotting dolphins in the water indicates it’s “safe” to swim since it suggests sharks won’t be nearby. However, this isn’t necessarily true as both sharks and dolphins can coexist.
regularly sail through the same areas
because they eat many of the same animals, like schooling fish, squid, and crustaceans, according to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. They also sometimes eat each other: Dolphins feed on smaller shark species and large sharks are known to attack dolphins.
Every shark species is identical.
Despite the negative reputation ‘sharks’ often receive, there are more than 500 distinct shark species, each uniquely varied,” explains Dr. Chapman. “Sharks stand out as remarkable survivors and evolutionary leaders. Their design flawlessly suits them for various environments, dietary requirements, hunting strategies, mating behaviors, and evading threats. Consequently, one cannot generalize with a single term like ‘shark.’ Rather, we should appreciate these 500-plus extraordinary creatures.
Although many shark species develop considerable size and possess sizable teeth, the biggest ones such as whale sharks and basking sharks—which often reach lengths of up to 40 feet—are harmless and pose no threat to people. Additionally, numerous small shark varieties also exist: The dwarf lantern shark is minuscule enough to rest comfortably in an outstretched human hand, whereas coral catsharks seldom exceed two feet in length, which makes these creatures particularly sought after for private fish tanks. Despite this information, there remains
One kind of shark you’ll find
never
see in an aquarium.
Sharks have no predators
As mentioned earlier, dolphins occasionally consume small sharks. Furthermore, orcas—which are the largest species within the dolphin family—even do this as well.
assault and prey on great whites
According to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, but the primary danger to sharks comes from humans. Studies indicate that humans are responsible for killing approximately
100 million each year
Unfortunately, declining shark numbers could harm the ocean ecosystem—as crucial top marine predators, sharks play an essential role in our seas.
Shark nets are a good way to protect swimmers
Australia has the second-highest number of unprovoked shark bites in the world, after the United States, according to research by Dr. Chapman and her coauthor Daryl McPhee, PhD, an associate professor of Environmental Science at Bond University. Most of the attacks have happened off the coast of New South Wales, according to the ISAF. In an effort to protect swimmers and surfers, the Australian government
has tested shark nets in the area
For numerous years, people have aimed to trap aggressive shark species like great whites and bull sharks, which are most prone to human bites. However, countless other creatures, including several endangered ones, ended up ensnared in these traps. During a particular five-month span, among the total 145 animals captured, this unfortunate outcome occurred.
Only two were targeted as shark targets.
According to news reports, most of the animals trapped in these nets perish.
If sharks cease swimming, they will perish.
Sharks possess multiple gill slits on either side of their heads—while swimming, water enters through their mouths and passes over their gills, with the gills extracting oxygen from the water. Great white sharks, makos, and whale sharks rely solely on this method for respiration.
They must continuously swim to obtain oxygen.
According to the Smithsonian Institution, some species do so, but numerous others can draw water into their mouths and move it across their gills independently while remaining still. This includes nurse sharks, angel sharks, and the uniquely shaped tasseled wobbegongs.
Shark fins possess therapeutic benefits.
Shark fin soup is a delicacy in China and was traditionally believed to have health benefits. But modern scientists point out that shark tissue, including the cartilage of the fin, can be extremely high in mercury and other toxins. What’s more, shark fishing—much of which is done to obtain the fins for the high-priced soup—kills up to
100 million animals each year
, endangering several different species, and perhaps even the whole ocean ecosystem.
If you get bitten by a shark, your chances of survival aren’t good.
You have more than double the chance
to perish due to a lightning bolt
More people get injured from things other than shark bites, as reported by the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF). Moreover, even if someone gets bitten, “most individuals manage to survive,” states Dr. Chapman. The same report indicates that in 2018 globally, out of 66 unprovoked shark attack cases, merely six ended fatally.
