The odd monsters of the deep, afear of sharksis practically bred into most human beings.
Its only through a closer examination of the shark that we see the truth.
Far from beasts, these are simple creatures who perform a basic, brutal function.
via businessinsider.com
They also have the capacity for gentleness, playfulness, and empathy, so far from theJawsmythos weve devised.
Heres everything you oughta know.
Death by fireworks is 1 in 340,733.
Death by drowning while youre worried about the shark: 1 in 1,134.
More people areshot by toddlersevery year thankilled by sharks.
Sharks Are Cleaners
Our view of sharks as great predators of the oceans isnt entirely accurate.
Sharks arent mighty and noble.
Theyre generally very aggressive janitors.
The job of sharks is mostly to kill off diseased or wounded fish.
While cruel, this avoids diseases from proliferating in the water, where disease can easily travel.
Theyre filters of an evolutionary sort and thus, hugely necessary to theoceanic ecosystem.
The damage we do to sharks now could be catastrophic in the future.
Were The Killers
Approximately 6 people per year are killed in shark attacks.
We human beings, simultaneously, kill 100 million sharks.
Often tocut off the finsas a delicacy, then leave the animal to die in the water.
Of those 30, only three have ever been known tokill a person.
These are the great white shark, the bull, and the tiger.
This accounts for an extremely tiny percentage that can be considered dangerous.
Sharks have no penchant for the taste of people, and generally prefer animals in their own diet.
So, they do what sharks do and they bite.
Theyre merely exploring the way sharks explore.
It simply happens to be with the rending of flesh.
Even Shark Attacks Often Arent
Sharks have never been known to set out and specifically attack humans.
They often avoid people, but curiosity drives some to investigate us.
Theyre attacking what they think might be food.
The best way to stop this is to let them know you arent good to eat.
In recognizing they arent after you, its easier to imagine ways to deter them from harming you.
Theres something about the movement of surfers that makes sharks more interested than any other water activity.
Boogie boarding and the like all draw sharks in.
65% of shark incidentsinvolved a surferof one kind or another.
32 percent of incidents were between a shark and a person who was swimming or wading.
Then, 3% occurred with people who were snorkeling.
Sharks, like all creatures, have a fight or flight response.
Give them something they dont understand.
Blowing bubbles is often a good strategy, since thats foreign to them.
If youre trying to hurt them, gouge their eyes.
Hitting, slapping, and kicking arent likely to have nearly the same effect as deeply gouging.
Plus, youre never, ever going to need this.
Men Are More Likely To Be Attacked By Sharks
93% of shark attacks involve men.
Part of the reasons are that men surf more than women and also tend to take more risks.
So, stop acting like wounded fish, boys, and the sharks wont come looking for you.
Sharks dont, which brought about the assumption that perhaps they must always bein motion.
September Is The Most Dangerous Shark Month
In June, there are approximately60+ shark attacksaround Florida.
In July, that number climbs to 70, hitting the mid-80s by August.
In September, the number spikes dramatically to 100+.
So, be extra careful the later in the summer you head for the beach.
Theyre more rapacious at these times and that makes them cranky.
It also means theyre likely to bite.
Stay out of the water or avoid the circling fins until another time and youll be aces, champ.
Go ahead and look up all thetiger shark trackingsoftware and deep-sea shark digs the world is watching right now!
Sharks are generally saltwater animals.
