Shark attacks triathletes in Gulf
Ronnie Godwin
6/9/00 12:21 PM
GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) -- Police closed the Gulf Shores Public Beach until
further notice today after two men were injured in an apparent shark attack.
Chuck Anderson, a coach and vice principal at Robertsdale High School, and
Richard Whatley, a Gulf Shores barber, were apparently training for a
triathlon, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, between 7:30 and 8 a.m. when both
were bitten near the Pink Pony Pub, a local landmark.
Both were taken to a Foley hospital. Whatley was listed in stable condition,
and Anderson was in serious condition, officials said. Both men were in
surgery, spokeswoman Donna McFarland said.
Anderson will likely lose an arm as a result of the attack, she said.
Whatley had puncture wounds from a bite.
Police closed the beach down to the Gulf State Park pavilion, a distance of
about a mile. Red flags were flying and beach attendants were keeping people
out of the water.
It wasn't immediately known what kind of shark attacked the men. Bob Shipp,
chairman of the marine science department at the University of South Alabama
in Mobile, said it could have been a bull shark. The shark is known to
frequent warm Gulf waters during summer months, he said.
Wendy Johnson
We should keep these guys in our prayers. I'm assuming by the home town that
Chuck Anderson is the same one that did Gulf Coast just a few weeks ago.
Two injured in apparent shark attack at Gulf Shores
By GARRY MITCHELL
The Associated Press
6/9/00 2:35 PM
GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) -- Two swimmers were injured, one seriously, in a
shark attack in the Gulf of Mexico early Friday, prompting local authorities
to close about 30 miles of beaches at the height of the region's tourist
season.
It was the state's first unprovoked shark attack in 25 years, and only the
second since 1900.
Chuck Anderson, a coach and vice principal at nearby Robertsdale High
School, was listed in serious condition at a local hospital about five hours
after the 6:45 a.m. attack. Spokesman Donna McFarland said he would likely
lose an arm.
Richard Whatley, a Gulf Shores barber, was apparently training for a
triathlon with Anderson when the men were bitten, McFarland said. Whatley
suffered puncture wounds from a bite, hospital officials said, but was in
stable condition. Both men were undergoing surgery Friday.
Police closed public beaches to swimmers from Fort Morgan to the Florida
state line, about 30 miles, posting red flags along the beach.
As for private beaches, "they can obviously do what they want, but we're
strongly suggesting that everyone stay out of the water," said state
Conservation Commissioner Riley Smith.
Construction worker Bill Walters said he and a co-worker rushed to help
after they heard Whatley screaming for help as he pulled Anderson from the
neck-deep water.
"Oh my God, you should have seen it ... blood everywhere," said Walters, of
Foley.
He said Anderson was "calm and cool, kind of laid down in the sand" before
being moved to a nearby bench. Whatley said he had tried to beat the shark
off Anderson, Walters said.
Sunbathers flocked to the beaches Friday, but none ventured into the
emerald-green, choppy Gulf.
"This is as close to the water as I'm going to get," said Cindy Salter, 21,
of Robertsdale, who was standing under a sidewalk shower. A former student
at Robertsdale, Salter said she knew Anderson.
There was no warning of sharks in the area before the attack, said Gulf
Shores Assistant Police Chief Fred Beaman, but few people were on the beach
at the early hour.
It wasn't immediately known what kind of shark attacked the men. Bob Shipp,
chairman of the marine science department at the University of South Alabama
in Mobile, said it could have been a bull shark. The shark is known to
frequent warm Gulf waters during summer months, he said.
Marine biologists from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources were flying over the coastline Friday, but said no unusual
concentration of sharks was noticed. Officials said large schools of bait
fish and cloudy water caused by winds could have contributed to the
incident.
Smith said the flights would continue through the weekend, and he planned to
decide early Saturday whether to reopen the beaches.
"How do they know when it's safe to go back in the water?" asked tourist
Hartley Simpson, 46, of Charlotte, N.C. "Have they got a shark detector?"
The last confirmed shark attack in Alabama waters was July 16, 1975, said
George Burgess of the International Shark Attack File at the University of
Florida.
The victim, William Wayne Daniels of Bay Minette, then 27, was about seven
miles from shore, Burgess said. The shark grabbed him by the leg, and
Daniels required "substantial sutures" around the knee area, he said.
The attack was the first in the Gulf this year, Burgess said.
Meanwhile, bumper-to-bumper traffic was streaming toward the coast, as
tourists arrived for the weekend. Carloads of youths slowed and pointed as
they neared the site of the attack.
Tonya Herren of Tuscaloosa, who annually visits Gulf Shores, was at the
beach with her sister and her four children.
But "we're not getting in the water or near it," she said.
Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
INSIDE
DeepSouth2001
one of the top over forty clydsedales in the region.
Tom Henderson
all of the local races, he's my clydesdale idol (very fast). I hope he has the
quickest and best recovery possible. He lost an arm in the attack, hopefully it
wasn't his dominant (writing) arm, as that just adds another wrinkle to rehab.
I hate to see anyone bear the brunt of such miserable luck! From the newpaper
reports, the water in the area was somewhat cloudy, which could explain the shark's
intial hit, but the fact that a second person was also hit, apparently by the same
shark, makes this even more unusual.
Sounds like the other fellow, Richard Whatley, had less serious injuries. I would
imagine I've probably seen him around too, but haven't seen a picture yet. Anyway,
I hope both of you guys get through this OK, sorry it happened in the first place.
Tom
Triathalator
Gulf This Year, from Texas to Florida and this had to happen to 2 of our fellow
triathletes.
CNN said this happened in shallow water too, it's not like they were a 1/4
mile out or something.
An article I found on line (Wendy Johnson directed me to it) said they were
out 60-180 feet, that's 20-60 yards. It also said that Chuck Anderson stayed
calm after being helped to shore, telling people to "get a tourniquet and call
(the hospital) that he needed a helicopter." You can find the Alabama Mobile
article at: http://www.al.com/news/mobile/Jun2000/10-a385206a.html
I know it's still early, but is any kind of a fund going to be set up for
Chuck Anderson? If so I'll set up a link from my web site so people can donate
to it.
I will be praying for these 2 athletes and their famlies,
Stephen Adams
http://www.trifind.com/
Brian Wagner
>
> This was incredibly horrible luck, there have been MILLIONS of swimmers in the
> Gulf This Year, from Texas to Florida and this had to happen to 2 of our fellow
> triathletes.
>
other end of the Gulf Stream North Carolina) last weekend and the
charter captains mentioned that they were seeing more bull sharks, which
are much more aggressive, this summer than in the past.
John Frazer
news:3944E0AC...@mr.marconimed.com...
> >
> This weekend a surfer was attacked near Corpus Christi. I was diving the
> other end of the Gulf Stream North Carolina) last weekend and the
> charter captains mentioned that they were seeing more bull sharks, which
> are much more aggressive, this summer than in the past.
Hmmm, I'm going to Florida in a couple weeks and looking for a place to
scuba dive ... maybe I'll stay inland with the gators.
Jim Morris
www.extratv.com/cmp/spotlight/2000/06_12a.htm
Monday June 12, 2000
Should We Fear Sharks?
It's America's shark season. Three swimmers fell prey to the sea's greatest
predator over the weekend. Are we more vulnerable to sharks than ever
before? EXTRA has the survivors and the great shark debate.
Richard Watley escaped the jaws of death by the skin of his teeth. A
powerful shark left deep gashes on Watley's hip and arm and ripped his
friend's arm off as they were swimming off the coast of Alabama Friday.
"It was just one of those freak things, just got in a fight with jaws and
just happened to come out of it," Richard tells us.
And just down the gulf coastline, 17 year old Kenny Alexander also escaped a
shark attack this weekend off Corpus Christi Texas.
"The shark came up bit in my skin and shook a little and let go," he
illustrates. "I started paddling as fast as I could ...hoping it wouldn't
come around and take another bite outta me."
Kenny's foot was mangled, but miraculously he survived. So did a Daytona
Beach teenager who escaped a shark attack two weeks ago. While the experts
insist shark attacks are extremely rare, only about a hundred a year, not
everybody buys that.
"The whole world is being lied to about sharks," claims Australian shark
hunter Vic Hislop.
He says the predators are vicious killing machines. He believes sharks are
coming closer to shore because over-fishing is depleting their food supply.
And he thinks the triathlete swimmers in the Sydney Summer Olympics have
reason to be worried.
"Here in Australia we have hundreds of people disappear. Right now in
Melbourne, one of the main beaches, 7 people have disappeared in the last 10
months," he says.
But a lot of people think Vic's the one telling a whopper about so many
shark deaths. People like Dennis Thoney curator of the New York Aquarium.
"Sharks feed off fish, they don't feed of people that sounds like some who
Doesn't understand sharks. Thoney says shark attacks are not on the rise and
believes sharks just mistake humans for prey but he does concede that some
Olympic athletes could be at risk.
"Athletes, they swim out farther, the water's deeper and can't see what's
going on may think it's a seal," warns Thoney.
But even if sharks aren't prowling for humans, worried moms aren't taking
any chances at the beach. Two important tips if you're swimming in the
ocean. Don't wear jewelry, it reflects light and attracts sharks. And don't
swim at dawn or dusk when sharks feed the most.
In the Los Angeles Times yesterday:
Alabama Shark Attack Victim Speaks
GULF SHORES, Ala.--Confronted by a shark that had already sheared off a
fellow swimmer's hand, Richard Watley knew he had the fight of his life.
"It came up under me, and I looked down and saw him staring me right in
the face. I thought, 'I'm going to die,' and I decided I wasn't going to die
without a fight," Watley said Saturday from his hospital room.
The shark attacked 55 -year-old Watley, a barber shop owner, and Chuck
Anderson, 44, a coach and vice principal at nearby Robertsdale High School,
Friday morning as they swam in the Gulf of Mexico training for a triathlon.
It was the first unprovoked shark attack in Alabama waters in 25 years.
Anderson lost his right arm a few inches below the elbow and Watley was
bitten all the way up the right side of his body.
"It hit Chuck first. I didn't even know what was going on," Watley
said.
The shark chased Anderson all the way to shore, then came after Watley,
who was about 80 to 100 feet out. He had seen Anderson stagger out of the
water but thought he had just run into some jellyfish.
"It bit my thigh and would have taken a chunk out of me, but I hit it
again," Watley said. "I thought it might leave me alone, but it came at me
again and again."
"I would punch him, he would retreat, and then I would swim as fast as
I could for about 5 to 10 seconds, but then I would have to turn around and
face him again.
"He chased me all the way to shore."
George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the
University of Florida, said the men were probably attacked by a full-grown
bull shark. They can be up to 11 feet long and weigh 500 pounds.
"Their teeth are designed to incise chunks out of their prey and shear
off flesh, much like what happened to Mr. Anderson's arm," Burgess said.
Public beaches along the coast were reopened to swimmers at noon
Saturday, but planes continued to fly over the coast, looking for large
numbers of sharks or schools of baitfish close to shore. Even though the
immediate danger has passed, Burgess cautioned people not to swim alone,
especially at dawn and dusk.
Brian Wagner
YOU really don't have much to worry about. Sharks go after swimmers
thrashing on the surface because, electrically and acoustically, they
resemble injured fish. You will be slow, horizontal, and submerged, and
look like a fellow predator. The captains were telling us about the
bulls because they saw our camera equipment, and knew we'd be
interested. They did say not to antagonize them, though. They weren't
interested in us, though, and hopefully I got some great shots. The
slides come back from the lab tomorrow.
Jim Morris
Author: Endorfin <endo...@scubadiving.com>
Date: 06-13-2000 08:28
no doubt in my mind that something has changed here locally, off of
Alabama. We went 5-6yrs diving/spearfishing and saw less than 5 sharks.
All just did a fly-by and went on their way. In the past 18 months or
so, fishing the same way and basically the same spots, we're running a
honest 40% (if we shoot a fish). A couple of spots had become so bad
that I now absolutly refuse to even dive them. Not only is the sightings
way up but their attitude has changed also. No more single fly-by's,
almost always multiple passes and much closer and (thankfully) rare
occasion of agressive posturing and behavior. What's actually caused
this, I haven't a clue. I'm hoping that it's just a normal cycle and
things will return to "normal" soon. I myself don't hate them, not
"scared", I call it highly respectfull of what they are.....an apex
predator.
FWIW almost all encounters have been with Bulls.
Be well and wet
'fin
Tim
I have read, sharks do not like how we taste, and usually spit us out after
one bite. Thus most attacks are one bite. Unfortunately the first bite is
not a nibble. That sounds like the attack in Texas, but not the one in
Alabama. The one in Alabama sounds surreal.
Jim Morris <jdtm...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:hou15.2132$xX4....@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Ronnie Godwin
A large 8 foot Bull Shark was found beached and alive yesterday near Panama
City area according to the newscast in PC I watched last night. They are
trying to deteremine how it happened. I saw the footage, and the shark was
being kept alive w/ a water hose.
trInIc
Irony is all that is left
after hearing the sad and frightening story about the shark attacks.....
trInIc
"Ronnie Godwin" <ron...@surfsouth.com> wrote in message
news:lwL15.182496$MB.33...@news6.giganews.com...
Larry Himmel
I've never heard of a beached shark. And a shark can't breath unless it's
immersed in water and moving forward. A dolphin could survive out of the water
if its skin is kept wet.
Larry
Brian Wagner
trInIc wrote:
>
> Can you say food-poisoning ?
> > A large 8 foot Bull Shark was found beached and alive yesterday near
> Panama
> > City area according to the newscast in PC I watched last night. They are
> > trying to deteremine how it happened. I saw the footage, and the shark
Brian Wagner
performing surgery on sharks.
Larry Himmel wrote:
>
> Huh?? Is this somehow confused with a dolphin?
>
> I've never heard of a beached shark. And a shark can't breath unless it's
> immersed in water and moving forward. A dolphin could survive out of the water
> if its skin is kept wet.
>
> Larry
>
> Ronnie Godwin wrote:
>
Brian Wagner
>
> According to Nature TV shows I have seen over the years, and some stuff that
> I have read, sharks do not like how we taste, and usually spit us out after
> one bite.
Not bulls - they have actually been known to titrate over to fresh water
and swim up the Ganges to where all the Hindu pilgrims bathe, just to
enjoy the 'feast.'
Brian Wagner
>
> no doubt in my mind that something has changed here locally, off of
> Alabama. We went 5-6yrs diving/spearfishing and saw less than 5 sharks.
> All just did a fly-by and went on their way. In the past 18 months or
> so, fishing the same way and basically the same spots, we're running a
> honest 40% (if we shoot a fish).
Same in Carolina - I was there 15 years ago, and no sharks at all. Last
week, we were told to expect them on every wreck, and one wreck is now
known for all the shed shark teeth in the sand. Probably overfishing is
bringing them inshore for food.
richard davico
southeast could be somehow responsible for all the shark
activity lately. Sounds stupid, I know, but something is
definitely up, and this is the only thing I can think of that is
out of the ordinary.
I'm sure La Nina has created some abnormal currents in the
gulf, as well as affecting winds, which all affects water
clarity and temperature. Gulf Coast Triathlon a few weeks ago
was too warm for wetsuits (82deg if I remember), something I
believe has only happened once or twice.
Here in Pensacola, a bull shark apperently attacked a swim
platform on a 22 foot boat yesterday, only 20 yards from shore.
I really don't believe overfishing is causing the sharks to
come in, fishing has been very good lately. There are more
artificial reefs than ever, and with the regulations on snapper
and grouper fishing, there certainly is no shortage of fish.
I havent been out fishing in the gulf in a while, but I'm sure
that the "blue water" line is very close to shore, as this has
everything to do with rain and wind.
Just a thought. I swim in the gulf here regularly too, it
would be nice to know what is going on.
Richard "me and Jacques go way back" DaVico
Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com.
Up to 100 minutes free!
http://www.keen.com
Iron Pete
Yep...too many free radicals due to intense exercise. Kills sharks all the
time. ;-)
Iron Pete "something lighthearted to offset the seriousness of the situation"
Priolo
Brian Wagner
>
> I really don't believe overfishing is causing the sharks to
> come in, fishing has been very good lately. There are more
> artificial reefs than ever, and with the regulations on snapper
> and grouper fishing, there certainly is no shortage of fish.
Sharks are pelagic, and out in the open ocean, overfishing is a big
problem. The artificial reefs ay also be bringing them in, since they
are mostly in expansive open ares of the sea bottom that were previously
barren, between typical reef territory and the sharks' natural hunting
grounds.
richard davico
politics play a big part in a lot of the studies supporting this
idea. The longline fishermen are the bad guys in these studies
and ironically, it is because so many sharks are killed this
way. This is just an opinion mind you, and we all know what
opinions are like.
If there is indeed a shortage, its probably been here for some
time, while it seems these shark stories just started popping
up. The artificial reefs are nothing new either. I agree that
the reefs have brought many sharks to the area, but still think
something else may be triggering the recent encounters.
Rich DaVico
Tom Henderson
According to today's paper, you're probably on to something. Apparently
the clearer water brought on by lack of rain has brought the baitfish in
closer, so the predators are following. Ready to join us for some Gulf
swimming in a couple of weeks?
Tom "Glad it rained today" Henderson
richard davico wrote:
> I have been wondering if the drought we are having in the
> southeast could be somehow responsible for all the shark
> activity lately. Sounds stupid, I know, but something is
> definitely up, and this is the only thing I can think of that is
> out of the ordinary.
> I'm sure La Nina has created some abnormal currents in the
> gulf, as well as affecting winds, which all affects water
> clarity and temperature. Gulf Coast Triathlon a few weeks ago
> was too warm for wetsuits (82deg if I remember), something I
> believe has only happened once or twice.
> Here in Pensacola, a bull shark apperently attacked a swim
> platform on a 22 foot boat yesterday, only 20 yards from shore.
> I really don't believe overfishing is causing the sharks to
> come in, fishing has been very good lately. There are more
> artificial reefs than ever, and with the regulations on snapper
> and grouper fishing, there certainly is no shortage of fish.
> I havent been out fishing in the gulf in a while, but I'm sure
> that the "blue water" line is very close to shore, as this has
> everything to do with rain and wind.
> Just a thought. I swim in the gulf here regularly too, it
> would be nice to know what is going on.
>
> Richard "me and Jacques go way back" DaVico
Stan Clark
believe in the Golden Rule also. Eat little fish who cannot fight back if
they get pissed off.
Brian Wagner <bwa...@mr.marconimed.com> wrote in message
news:39463179...@mr.marconimed.com...
Brian Wagner
>
> the reefs have brought many sharks to the area, but still think
> something else may be triggering the recent encounters.
>
of your own, let alone objective reasons for your position.
Brian Wagner
>
> I think we should avoid eating shark meat and hope sharks are religious and
> believe in the Golden Rule also. Eat little fish who cannot fight back if
> they get pissed off.
>
Like piranhas?
bolt
2000. We were 15 inches behind until yesterday. A friend of mine at the
Gulf Coast research lab tells me that that the high salinity and clear water
gives sharks(and other species) the impression that they are much farther
from land. People have been catching offshore fish species relatively close
to shore this year. I hope we get a ton of rain before Santa Rosa Island
since it is my only Gulf swim this year.
see ya...Mike Brown
Ocean Springs, MS
"Brian Wagner" <bwa...@mr.marconimed.com> wrote in message
news:394A1B56...@mr.marconimed.com...
richard davico
>richard davico wrote:
>>
>> the reefs have brought many sharks to the area, but still
think
>> something else may be triggering the recent encounters.
>>
>Such as? WHAT!?! Alien spacecraft? Reject all theories, but
offer none
>of your own, let alone objective reasons for your position.
>
>
richard davico
I found a copy of the paper, thanks for the tip. I feel a
little less stupid now. :O)
I'm anxious to start swimming again (actually to start doing
anything again, as I have been eat up with sorryness lately).
Sure am glad to see the rain come. I know my lawn loves it, but
I'm not sure it will do anything about the shark situation.
Someone brought it to my attention that it could be alien life
form causing the problem. ;O)
See ya in a few weeks
Riich DaVico
richard davico
While you are a very competant and entertaining writer, I think
you may need to brush up on your reading skills. In my first
post I mentioned that perhaps the drought could be responsible
for the recent activity. I said that the blue water line was
probably very close to shore, and this would go along with your
statement about sharks being palegic (although I'm not sure bull
sharks are considered palegic). There was an article in our
paper the other day which confirmed my beliefs, if that means
anything.
Rich DaVico
Brian Wagner
>
> Brian,
> While you are a very competant and entertaining writer, I think
> you may need to brush up on your reading skills. In my first
> post I mentioned that perhaps the drought could be responsible
> for the recent activity.
I display only new headers. If you're going to dispute something based
on something you posted earlier, at least allude to the earlier post.
Some of us have better things to do than memorize your past posts.
richard davico
>richard davico wrote:
>>
>> Brian,
>> While you are a very competant and entertaining writer, I
think
>> you may need to brush up on your reading skills. In my first
>> post I mentioned that perhaps the drought could be responsible
>> for the recent activity.
>
>I display only new headers. If you're going to dispute
something based
>on something you posted earlier, at least allude to the earlier
post.
Oh gimme a damn break. I don't spend all day in the
newsgroup, so I may be lacking in etiquette. I did include my
original statement as well as your reply with my post. However,
I thought I included it for the reader who may have jumped into
this thread after it started, certainly not for the poster I was
replying to. I think what's really bothering you is the fact
that I disagreed in the first place (although this surprises me
since I'm sure disagreement is nothing new to you ) ;o)
Anyhow, hopefully this message comes across with your post as
well. No promises, as I know about as much about computers as I
do about triathlons :O)
>Some of us have better things to do than memorize your past
posts.
And some of us have better things to do instead of attacking
posts just for the sake of attacking posts.
Generally if I reply to a post, I will remember it for at
least a day or so.
>
Richard "I think this is getting a little off the subject" DaVico
Ken_Kauai
>
> Sharks are pelagic, and out in the open ocean, >
Now this is only partly correct. Some sharks are pelagic but many are
not. I am not an expert but do have some experience. Bull sharks,
Grey Reef sharks, White tip, Black Tip are a few that are local,
territorial critters.
It is suspected that ocean conditions relative to temperature,
currents, available prey,all influenced by LaNina and other weather
phenomina might affect movement and behavior of sharks as well as other
ocean dwelling creatures.
Most important thing to remember is that sharks don't play, they bite
when hungry. Artifical reefs might attract sharks to take up
residence in an area previously devoid of a source of prey. Those same
reefs then should provide ample food.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Ken_Kauai
"Ronnie Godwin" <ron...@surfsouth.com> wrote:
> The Associated Press
> 6/9/00 12:21 PM
>
> GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) -- Police closed the Gulf Shores Public Beach
until
> further notice today after two men were injured in an apparent shark
attack.
>
Sharks are something that we need to think about but should not really
dwell on. They are out there in their ocean, they can bite and they
can kill.
These attacks are rare, even rarer than stem failures.
some precautions to take:
Do your open water swim training during hours of mid day when
possible. Sharks feed during early morning and again early in the
evening and throughout the night.
Avoid swimming in murkey water, especially if it has been caused by run-
off by recent rains.
Don't swim near river mouths or the channel entrance to bays.
Don't swim in areas where spearfishing is happening or where fishermen
may be cleaning fish and discarding the remains, such as piers or docks.
Sharks follow pelegic fish. During peak fish schooling times it might
be good to stay away from those areas. My years of diving the Western
Pacific taught me that dangerous sharks, such as Great Whites, Tigers
and Makos were common during July, August and September when Tuna, Mahi
Mahi and Wahoo were plentiful. The reminder of the year they were
seldom encountered, only the local friendly Greys, Black Tips and White
Tips were common all year.
Swim with a group.
Aloha,
Ken@kauai
sharkm...@my-deja.com
>>Do your open water swim training during hours of mid day when
>>possible. Sharks feed during early morning and again early in the
>>evening and throughout the night.
Sound advice! Could I just make an additional point here? A study
by Dr. Samual Gruber on the optic anatomy of the Great White Shark
(*Carcharodon carcharias*) found that these sharks have very good
diurnal (daytime) vision. This indicates that these sharks probably
feed during the day as opposed to following the crepuscular (dawn and
dusk) cycles of most other sharks. Indeed, it was considered that
this is the reason Great Whites often pose the greatest threat of any
shark, because they are feeding whilst we are swimming! Hope this
helps.
Cheers,
-- M.B.
sharkm...@my-deja.com
>>I've never heard of a beached shark. And a shark can't breath unless
>>it's immersed in water and moving forward. A dolphin could survive
>>out of the water if its skin is kept wet.
Sharks do actually beach themselves! It is well known for Whale
Sharks (*Rhiniodon typus*) to strand in South Africa, Salmon Sharks
(*Lamna ditropis*) to strand in Montery Bay and even White Sharks
(*Carcharodon carcharias*) to strand in South Africa, British Columbia
and Canada (Martin, 1998). Reasons for this have not been varified yet
and it is true to say that cetaceans (dolphins and whales) strand more
often than sharks, and sharks don't seem to mass-strand. It has been
suggested that magnetic disturbances or illness may be causative
factors, but the jury is still out.
It is also a misconception that sharks must keep swimming in order to
breathe. Although it is true of some species (i.e. Great White, Whale
sharks et. al.) many species - notably Nurse sharks (*Ginglymostoma
cirratum*), Tiger sharks (*Galeocerdo cuveri*), Whitetip Reef Sharks
(*Triaenodon obesus*) - are able to lay almost motionless on the seabed
and pump water over their gills. Granted this method uses, on
average, 9% more energy than if they were swimming but none-the-less
many species seem to use it!
Upon removing a shark from the water to do any kind of operation then a
flow of water must be maintained over its gills (usually with the aid
of a hose). If a shark is removed from the water for a short time
(e.g. to insert a tag or take a blood sample) then a hose is not
necessary.
Okay, well I've rambelled but I hope that this has proved interesting
to someone out there!!
Cheers,
-- Marc.