Sharks have existed on Earth for over 420 million years—much longer than modern humans, who evolved around 200,000 years ago. Yet, it’s an instinct for people to be scared of sharks, as some are fierce hunters. But, Hollywood’s adaptation of them hasn’t helped either—films such as The Meg, 47 Meters Down, and soon its sequel, 47 Meters Down 2: Uncaged depict sharks has monstrous killing machines.
Although sharks can be dangerous, attacks on humans are rare.
In 2018, there were only 66 documented unprovoked shark attacks, significantly lower than the five-year average. These attacks represent half of the 130 total recorded incidents. The remaining events include attacks that were “provoked” by human interactions with sharks.
Did you know that in ancient Japan, the god of storms was a shark, which was a symbol of fear?
In Papa New Guinea, the ancient practice of “shark calling” is carried out to lure sharks to the surface—shamans shake coconut rattles to entice the shark from out of the depths. More people have been killed by the box jellyfish than sharks and crocodiles combined. The lethal jellyfish can kill a person in just a few minutes.
Over the years, people are slowly learning to respect sharks rather than fear them. Discovery Channel’s Shark Week has been the longest-running cable television program in history, doing what it can to debunk many myths surrounding sharks as well as provide updated research and educational findings each year with respect to the living habits of these oceanic creatures. The study of sharks is also known as elasmobranchology.
What research has found is that humans have become more dangerous to sharks than ever before, and more alarming than they are to us. Modern fishing techniques has led to many organizations raising awareness about their endangered species.
Where Do Most Attacks Happen?
Every year, there are fewer than 100 reported cases worldwide of sharks attacking humans. Of those attacks, fewer than 20 are considered fatal.
Most attacks happen in shallow water near the shore because that’s where sharks and swimmers are most likely to be in the same place at the same time. However, the danger of a shark attack is more prevalent at night time, because sharks move inshore to feed and are most active.
So why do sharks attack humans? Usually, attacks are the result of mistaking human for prey and/or being in the wrong place at the wrong time for meal time.
On Monday, a Florida man was bitten by a shark, which marks the sixth attack this year on a beach. Reed Zipperer, 18, was surfing with friends at New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, when he was bitten on the hand by a shark while only waist-deep in the water. According to University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File, Volusia County has been named the “shark attack capital of the world,” serving as the second most dangerous area in Florida with over 300 attacks since 1882.
“Went to paddle, and it just like, just bit me and I looked at it. Like three deep gashes. Like, sick, man,” the Indian Harbor beach resident told Orlando’s WKMG. “There’s a lot of bait in the water. The water is super murky and like, I don’t blame him. My hand probably looks yummy to them.”
Zipperer said he had to get 19 stitches as a result of the attack but avoided any serious damage to his ligaments.
“Hoping there’s a sick scar maybe,” he added.
The beach where Zipperer was attacked is in Volusia County, which has been named the “shark attack capital of the world” by the . Volusia County has been the site of 303 attacks since 1882 — topping the second most dangerous area in Florida by more than double.
Remembering the USS Indianapolis
USS Indianapolis, 1945In late July 1945, one of the worst shark tragedies happened. USS Indianapolis had been on a special secret mission, delivering parts of the first atomic bomb to the Pacific Island of Tinian where American B-29 bombers were based. The warship, with 1,197 men on board, was sailing west towards Leyte in the Philippines when it was attacked and torpedoed, leaving almost 1,000 crew members in the water. Before they could be rescued, more than 600 crew members had been eaten by sharks.
Shark Week Debuts Its First Scripted Film
Wednesday night made history for Shark Week and Discovery Channel, as the network aired its first scripted movie, Capsized: Blood in the Water, starring Josh Duhamel, Rebekah Graf, Beau Garrett, Josh Close, and Tyler Blackburn. The film tells the harrowing tale of a yacht crew who finds themselves fighting for their lives after their boat capsizes in shark-infested waters.
The film is based on the actual events from October 1982, when five sailors attempted to sail from Maryland to Florida on a yacht dubbed Trashman. A major storm was to blame for the actual Trashman yacht to capsize back in 1982. The crew reached waters near the coast of North Carolina, an area known for its bustling migrating shark population, when the boat—ravaged by the storm—sank to the bottom of the ocean, according to Popular Mechanics. The sailors had nothing but a life raft after the storm hit—no food, no water and no emergency gear.
Duhamel stars as yacht captain, John Lippoth, who leads the journey before their unfortunate demise.
