A few months ago, in the Caribbean, a tourist was attacked in a very violent manner by a bulb shark. The latter had approached him to take a photo. Surprised by its presence, the animal renowned for its dangerousness has thrown itself on it. The woman has lost her hands, said American magazine Fast Company. The attack, far from isolated, is part of a trend that truly worries scientists.
According to a study by Éric Clua, professor of Paris Sciences et Lettres University, these intrusive behaviors cause defensive bites. The shark is stressed or surprised by human contact and reacts by biting. According to the figures of his work published in the Revue Frontiers in Conservation Science, out of 74 bites recorded in French Polynesia, 5% were linked to this type of behavior. More broadly, by leaning on a database identifying shark attacks since the beginning of the XIXe century, more than 300 cases of “defensive” attacks could be noted.
On Instagram and Tiktok, the videos of swimmers caressing squals or clinging to their fins are multiplying. The influencer Taylor Cunningham, followed by more than 111,000 subscribers, regularly shares videos and photos as close as possible to sharks, she even made her specialty. In one of them, we see her touching the muzzle of a tiger shark in Hawaii, while she comments: “Sharks here are like a family.”
See this publication on Instagram
Other influencers, such as Ocean Ramsey, even claim a physical connection with these predators and encourage their subscribers to try the experience. An irresponsible attitude that presents proximity to these predators as a safe experience, encouraging many amateurs to imitate these risky dives.
Sharks are not Yorkshire Terriers
Éric Clua holds social networks for responsible: “I do not encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, cling to the dorsal fin of a shark or caress it, all to prove that they are harmless.”
The ignorance of different shark species plays a key role in these accidents. Many people, influenced by the images conveyed on social networks, do not make the difference between a harmless shark and a potentially dangerous species. “We know the difference between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Pitbull, while we do not know that between a black spikes shark and a bouledogue shark, which are their marine equivalents”nuance Éric Clua.
While the United States and Australia remain the main focus of attacks, incidents are increasing in tourist areas such as the Caribbean or Polynesia. In mainland France, shark attacks remain extremely rare, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic housing few dangerous species. However, in the overseas territories such as meeting or New Caledonia, serious accidents occur each year, often linked to the practice of surfing or swimming in risk areas.
Scientists insist on the risks which are much lower than one imagines. Most incidents are linked to unsuitable human behavior rather than an aggressiveness of sharks. Keep in selfie with a large white shark, and everything should be fine.
