Just saying we’ll be getting to look at sharks seems to be a giant ‘duh’ moment that I’ll avoid from this point on, but being that this is the 31st Shark Week it should be said that there have been a few stories circulating around that are of interest and there’s never really a lack of interest in one of the most ancient species in the world. Kelly O’Sullivan from Country Living has been kind enough to remind us that Shark Week will be starting on Sunday July 28th and ending on Saturday, August 3rd, Shark Week has already been set up to deliver some truly interesting facts and updates when it comes to how people view sharks and how they continue to be one of the most fascinating creatures the world over. From documentaries to TV shows to movies we’ll be able to tune into the Discovery Channel and see whatever we’d like when it comes to these prehistoric enigmas and how they operate under the waves.
One of the best things to expect from Shark Week is that the fear and paranoia that go into the beliefs that have been developed about sharks and fomented by the media and movies is generally diffused when we get to see the actual nature of these fearsome predators. There are no doubts that they’re little more than hundreds of pounds of muscle and teeth with a serious agenda most times, but it’s also interesting to learn just why they do the things they do. In fact it’s a known fact at this point that while some sharks will attack humans without much, if any, provocation, a lot of attacks are a case of mistaken identity as there are moments when a human wearing a wetsuit might look like a seal, or a human on a boogie board or surfboard could somehow resemble a tortoise, which are both food sources of many sharks. Then there’s the idea that a casual bump by a shark, or a nip, is to see what the object in front of them tastes like. In general sharks don’t go after humans as you might see in Jaws or any other shark movie since we’re not nearly fatty enough as a seal is and our taste is thought to be something very different than what sharks are used to. When caught in a feeding frenzy it’s possible to be nipped and even bitten, when a person is bleeding into the water there’s a big risk, and when a shark feels threatened or is trying to defend a kill there’s a good chance that a human who is seen as being in the way could be attacked. But generally sharks can be deterred fairly easily if they come too close by those that are wise enough to simply not panic.
It’s true that not panicking when you’re in a shark’s natural element and can’t possibly swim fast enough to get away is easier said than done. But it’s been proven more than once that even with multiple sharks in the water that a person who is not flailing about and is not panicking is relatively safe. It’s been said over and over that sharks are attracted to various stimuli, and flailing one’s limbs in the water can be seen as a sign of distress, which can translate to meal time for a shark since it says ‘easy prey’. But many people have gone swimming with sharks over the years and can attest to the fact that while they are dangerous creatures, sharks are generally more curious about humans than anything and might attack only if provoked, like many animals. The documentaries that air during Shark Week tend to go over these points again and again and while they might seem repetitive they’re still important, particularly if you happen to live or visit places where there are known to be sharks. The advice you can glean from such shows is highly important given that it can help when you need it and it’s also quite interesting to pull fact from fiction now and again. After all when we’re young we’re conditioned to fear things that we don’t fully understand and that could possibly hurt us if we’re not respectful of them. Sharks have been a creature that have been largely misunderstood for a long, long time. Shark Week is great since it allows people to realize that while these aquatic beasts are dangerous and can be smoothly gliding nightmares with teeth, they’re also rather majestic in their own way and provide a great deal of insight into a part of our world that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of in many ways.
Definitely set the dates on your calendar and get ready for another good look at one of the most vicious but misunderstood species in the world this coming week, you might be glad that you learned something.
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