Sharks are marine predators that have been the subject of human fascination and fear for centuries. They are often depicted as ferocious creatures that indiscriminately attack bathers and surfers. However, Is it true that sharks eat human flesh or is it just a myth? Not exactly a question one should ask oneself on vacation, waist-deep in water on a beach you’re walking on for the first time. Word has been around for about 50 years that sharks don’t really like our taste, but that may not be entirely true. Find out in Supercurious.
Sharks eat human flesh: myth or reality?
In September 1968, a Californian newspaper, The Evening Independent, published a story titled “Expert Says Sharks Don’t Like the Human Taste.” The expert was Dr. Shelton Applegate, a researcher in the paleontology department of the Los Angeles County Museum. He should have contributed to feed the myth that sharks do not like human meatand that attacks on swimmers and surfers are due to misperception by these animals.
One would have to start by saying that there are a wide variety of dangerous shark species, with equally varied diets, ranging from plankton to medium-sized whales. Only a small number of sharks, such as the great white, bull, or tiger, attack humans.
Although there is no consensus on this either, and some marine biologists affirm that almost Any shark larger than one meter fifty can be dangerous to humans.
Many researchers also disagree with the theory that attacks on surfers are due to the animal mistaking them for seals or sea lions. However, one of the curiosities of sharks is that they have highly developed senses. They even have some that we don’t, like the ability to sense bioelectric fields.
Shark Attacks Around the World: Statistics and Trends
Although shark attacks are relatively rare, continue to be a topic of great interest to the general public. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a total of 129 shark attacks were recorded worldwide in 2020, 57 of which were confirmed as unprovoked attacks (i.e., when the shark attacks without being provoked by the victim). ). That is why it is believed that sharks eat human flesh.
Although this number may seem high, it is actually quite low compared to other causes of violent death, such as traffic accidents or murder.
In terms of the geographic distribution of shark attacks, the US tops the list with 33 unprovoked attacks in 2020followed by Australia with 18, South Africa with 8, and Brazil with 6. However, it is important to note that these numbers do not necessarily reflect the number of sharks living in each of these areas, but rather the number of people who bathe or practice water sports on the beaches in those areas.
Looking at long-term trends, ISAF data shows that the number of shark attacks has been on the rise in recent decades. However, this trend can be partly explained by a greater number of people bathing or practicing water sports in high-risk areas.
However, it has also been argued that the climate change and overexploitation of sharks may be contributing to a increased frequency of shark attacks in some areas. That is, sharks do not necessarily eat human flesh.
Do sharks view humans as viable prey?
It is true that there is a remarkable survival rate from shark attacks, which has contributed to fueling one of the shark myths that they do not like human flesh. This implies a certain sophistication in taste that these large fish may not have.
Researchers say taste serves sharks well to know if what is biting is meat or something else. In the case of some species, sometimes not even that, since fur coats, car license plates, and even hand grenades have been found in the stomachs of tiger sharks.
Generally, the idea that sharks eat human flesh is widely accepted. However, there is some consensus, supported by statistics, that it is not its preferred prey, for reasons such as the following.
Human beings are a lot of bone and muscle
In addition, we have relatively little fat, if we compare ourselves with seals, lions, walruses or sea elephants. To keep moving, large marine carnivores they prefer fish or mammals with higher fat content.
unknown prey
Humans are exotic prey in the water, and therefore unknown to sharks. Above all, because they feed mainly on fish, and on certain marine mammals. An unknown prey for any animal implies a certain kind of danger.
Depends on the species
Species such as the white shark, tiger shark, and other large carnivores use their mouths, like us, their hands, to explore potential food. This would explain why there are so many one-bite attacks. Of course, depending on the size of the shark, a single bite can be enough to cause death.
They represent an effort
Sharks prefer non-resisting prey, and humans often defend themselves, as is widely recommended. Humans hit and can damage sensitive areas of the shark like the eyes. That is why they prefer to withdraw when they meet resistance.
This does not mean that certain shark species are not dangerous to humans. There are at least 13 deaths a year from their attacks, but we are still the most dangerous for them. In addition, there is full certainty that we like their meat and their fins, where more than 30 million copies slaughtered per year certify it.
In conclusion, although sharks eat human flesh, it is not a normal part of their diet and most shark attacks on humans are isolated cases. It is important to understand the statistics and patterns behind shark attacks to minimize the risk of dangerous encounters in the future. We hope this article has been useful to you and we invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!