White Shark Attacks

White sharks are often feared due to the series of Jaws movies that painted them as ruthless human killers. White sharks are the dominant predator of the ocean, but the immediate danger to humans is relatively low. In reality, the amount of people who are affected by unprovoked shark attacks is about 50 to 75 per year. To put this in perspective, this amount is a great deal smaller than the number of people killed each year by other unprovoked attacks from animals such as bees or crocodiles. It is even smaller than the amount of people who are struck by lightening each year.

Why, then, are sharks the main fear of beach lovers? The answer may have something to do with the amount of information known about sharks. Until recently, research into the lives and habits of these creatures was fairly non-existent. As a society, we often fear what we do not know, and sharks certainly fall into that category.

Shark Attacks

An unprovoked shark attack is often a shark mistaking an individual as prey and not caused by a craving for human flesh. Think of a wet-suit clad surfer. Even in relatively clear water, a surfer wrapped in dark fabric could very easily resemble an elephant seal, a favorite food of the white shark. Other shark attacks are likely a reaction to humans unwittingly trespassing into a shark's territory.

Though the number of attacks is low, there is still a danger if sharks are not given a wide berth. Typically, sharks attack in the shallow waters close to shorelines or around sandbars or natural drop off points between the land and the ocean, which are popular feeding grounds. It is important to take extra caution when in areas known for shark habitation.