Another video of a shark swimming in shallow waters in Plettenberg Bay has gone viral on social media. The clip was shared by Facebook group, PE Buzz, on Friday.
The commentator is heard saying, “right where the lady was attacked”, in reference to Kimon ‘Kiki’ Bisogno – the victim of a fatal shark attack incident in Plett this week.
Also read: Remembering Kimon ‘Kiki’ Bisogno, an “extraordinary human being”
Sharks are not the mindless killing machines that horror movies once depicted. But there’s no denying that tension exists between these predators and humans.
Humans do not form part of a shark’s natural diet but they will investigate if they see a human splashing in the water – which can lead to an accidental attack.
A shark can mistake a human for something else, like a seal. “A large number of bites occur when water conditions are poor, which could indicate that factors like low visibility and background noise from heavy surf make it harder to distinguish prey from non-prey,” says Dr Alison Kock, Save Our Seas Foundation project leader.
It’s best to avoid swimming in dirty water, near river mouths, near fisheries outlets, and at dawn and dusk.
Another reason sharks might bite humans is to determine what it is.
“This could explain why, in many cases, a white shark has bitten lightly and let go,” she says, noting that most white shark incidents involve bites of minimal force.
Following the tragic shark encounter in Plettenberg Bay, sharks have been met with hostility despite simply existing in their natural habitat.
To villainize sharks is both a mistake and ignorant, and various organisations have done their utmost to educate individuals on these natural predators.
If you would like to learn more or looking to donate in order to help spread awareness through education programmes, Save our Seas: Shark Education Centre is a great place to start.
- Website: www.saveourseas.com
Also read:
Old shark footage in Plett circulates one day after fatal attack
Picture: Screenshot