Mission Statement:
To become the
internet's leading educational source
of information on sharks and shark conservation
for the world's youth.
Develop a
better understanding and appreciation for these fine animals and the majesty
they have brought to our world for hundreds of millions of years. Please
explore our site to learn more about them and what you can do to help. Knowledge
is power, be powerful!
Richard Lefler, Director S.E.A. Program
Attacks
Why Do Sharks Attack?
There are well over 350 different species (types) of sharks swimming in the oceans today. Maybe ten percent of that 350 are somewhat dangerous to humans. At the very most, only a few of those pose serious risk and are considered deadly. Sharks are wild animals, and like most wild animals may attack when threatened.
So...why do sharks attacks?
Sharks that attack humans usually attack because they mistake humans for their natural prey, such as seals or sea lions. Because larger sharks attack from behind and below their victim, they often see a silhouette of their target and may confuse a surfer or boogie boarder as a seal. Remember that sharks don't have hands to test out their next meal so they bite. Typically that bite is intended to disable the victim allowing the shark to feed free from harm.
Truth be told (and it should be), most human victims die from shock, trauma, and loss of blood, not from being devoured. It's a theory that sharks may withdraw from human prey once they determine humans don't taste (or have the fat content) of their typical prey.
The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) reports that there were seven fatalities in 2004, four in 2003, three in 2002 and four in 2001. Given that millions of people enter the water every year, these numbers are anything but remarkable. A blip on the radar unless you are the unfortunate victim.
The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) also reports, in 1996, there were 43,687 injuries related to toilets and only 13 injuries or deaths related to sharks. You do the math!
Compare an average of less than 5 fatalities a year (between 2001 and 2004) to the tens of millions of sharks finned each year. Millions upon millions of sharks are being finned (for soup) and released back into the water to drown. The true crime here is not a case of mistaken identity, it's a case of catastrophic slaughter.
The below link covers most international shark related incidents and is a great source of information.
Be sure to come back to seaprogram.com.
