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Some who have been attacked now work on their behalf

Sharks are amazing animals and there are more than 400 species of these magnificent fish. Over the past week when I've been watching TV I've seen advertisements for what's called "Shark Week", in which of course, the media misrepresents them as heinous predators—using terms such as "Sharkzilla", for example. The ad is among the most stupid and minsinformed I've seen in ages. It's difficult to believe people actually get paid to produce such misleading dribble. 

Of course sharks attack humans occasionally when they've trespassed into their homes. And the results of these attacks often are tragic. However, they really do what most of us would do if an uninvited intruder entered our home. I'm sure sharks and other animals have many more opportunities to attack intruders but choose not to. I've had close encounters with other predators including black bears and cougars who live around my house and I know on other occasions they've been closely watching me and most often never bother to tell me to get out of their living rooms. 

Given the media hype that centers on shark attacks, I was pleasantly pleased and surprised to learn that as part of shark week there's also a segment in which shark attack survivors turn into advocates for these wonderful animals produced by the California-based production company, Beanfield Productions, with whom I've had the pleasure to work. 

Here's a teaser: Survivors in this segment "include Al Brenneka, who lost his right arm after an attack at Delray Beach, and Mike Coots, who lost a leg in an attack while surfing in Hawaii. 'Shark Fight' also features harrowing re-enactments of the attacks. Former Sentinel reporter Debbie Salamone embodies the theme of 'Shark Attack.' A shark severed her Achilles tendon about 10 years ago. She came up with the idea of creating Shark Attack Survivors for Shark Conservation and recruited people from around the world beginning in 2009. The group persuaded Congress to close loopholes in the nation’s shark finning ban, a law that President Barack Obama signed last year." The interview with Ms. Salamone is a must read. 

I'm so pleased to see there is indeed an attempt to take a balanced view of sharks. Like most other animals, we need to come to a greater understanding of who they really are and the many sides of their wonderful personalities and presence on the planet. The world would be a poorer place without sharks and other "dangerous" animals. 

Note: For more on how to interact safely with sharks read about Dr. Erich Ritter's Shark School

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David, there are many species that are capable of feeding on the human animal, and it appears that it is you who is suggesting those species be eradicated. You are misrepresenting my position and you are ascribing theories and thoughts to me that are not only inaccurate, but have no basis whatsoever. 

I'm well aware of what speciesism is, and, as my position is that humans should respect all individuals, as individuals, including the human animal, I fail to see how you can credibly suggest that my position is one of a speciesist. 

To suggest that humans should sterilize sharks in order to protect humans from being "attacked" by sharks, when, as I have already stated, over 100 million sharks are intentionally killed by humans, as opposed to 11 (ELEVEN) humans accidentally being killed by sharks each year, is one of the most anthropocentric positions I have ever heard.  

Where would you suggest we stop, David? Do we sterilize (with the intent of eradication) all predators? If not, why not? If we do, when the oceans are empty, what would you suggest we do to save the planet? Do we sterilise all insects too? Do we also sterilise most birds? Do we sterilise most humans? 

I'm interested in where you think we should stop, and why we should stop there. 


You're an animal with interest. Are you saying it's good that the animals are attacked by other animals? That would be totally contradictory.

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