The idea of sharks evokes images from Hollywood movies: predatory creatures, out for blood, deliberately hunting down unsuspecting beachgoers. The thing is, they don’t even like to eat people. Human blood doesn’t get them going like blood from things they actually eat does. And when they do attack, it’s usually just a bite.
Fish, seals and various other sea creatures make up the diet of this fearsome hunter. And they have wonderfully evolved to follow his craft; strong, fast, agile, and lots and lots of teeth, which is a big part of why we find them so terrifying.
People are more 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 from shore and is floundering, trying to get into position to ride a big wave, may look like an injured seal to a shark. The surfer has no idea that his behavior is attracting the shark. In a way, it’s like an unlucky swimmer who gets caught in a current and is pulled out to sea. It’s just an unfortunate coincidence.
However, of the millions of people who visit the beaches each year, only about 12 are killed by sharks. Also, there are about 90 shark attacks a year, and many of them are just hits or shoves, usually only leaving a bruise. Of course it is a tragedy every time an accident occurs, but we must remember that these are accidents and not intentional actions on the part of the sharks.
Did you know that falling coconuts are actually ten times more harmful to people than sharks? It is true! Even the most aggressive sharks, including the tiger shark and the great white shark, almost never attack people. Driving into the ocean can be more dangerous than a shark because 40,000 people die as a result of driving in the US every year.
When a person is bitten by a shark, of course the victim deserves sympathy. But also the hundreds of sharks that will be hunted and killed in revenge. The sharks have no idea what they have done or why we are trying to kill them; unlike humans, they cannot be told what they are being punished for. We only have two options: kill sharks or live with them in peace. Killing them hasn’t made us any safer, so maybe we should try the second option.
Although the Hollywood image of sharks has left people afraid of the water, it is important to note that they do not seek out humans as prey. However, they sometimes mistake people for prey, when people mimic the behavior of the prey. Still, only a dozen people out of the millions who swim in the oceans each year die from a shark attack.
