The Truth About Great White Sharks by Mary M. Cerullo

Author:Mary M. Cerullo [Mary M. Cerullo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Published: 2000-03-12T05:00:00+00:00

The Truth Is . . .

Great White Sharks Attack with a Plan

Reports of great white shark attacks on people are surprisingly alike. In most cases, the shark appears without warning, takes a bite out of its victim, and then disappears. Some scientists think that sharks attack humans by mistake, since surfers on their boogie boards and divers in their wetsuits and flippers look a lot like the great white’s favorite meals—sea lions and seals. Shark experts are also trying to figure out why so many people survive an attack. Why didn’t the shark just gobble up the person when it had the chance? Did the shark realize its mistake? Maybe it didn’t like the taste of human flesh.

Scientist John McCosker, an expert on great white sharks, has another theory. He has watched how a great white attacks an elephant seal that may weigh several thousand pounds. He says, “It mugs it. The shark sneaks up from below, attacks the body, and backs off to a safe distance until the animal bleeds to death.” This way the shark isn’t hurt by the tusks and claws of the struggling animal.

John calls this his “bite and spit” theory. The shark releases its victim and waits for it to stop moving. After a few minutes, the shark returns to eat its meal. But in most attacks on humans, the victim is rescued before the shark can return.

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