World

Sharks Live in the Arabian Gulf – But Are They a Danger to Humans?

A fatal shark attack in Egypt has created a frenzy of fear among sea swimmers and beachgoers in the Middle East, with many vowing on social media to avoid the water. The man, a Russian citizen, was killed in the resort city of Hurghada on Thursday, while horrified bystanders could only watch. A video showing the attack, in which the shark circles the man before pulling him underwater in a pool of blood, was widely shared on Twitter on Friday.

But marine biologist Paul Hamilton, general manager of the National Aquarium in Abu Dhabi, said – despite the presence of many of the world’s large sharks – a similar attack in the Arabian Gulf was extremely unlikely.

“It’s absolutely horrific,” said Mr Hamilton, 45, from New Zealand. “I’m aware of it, I’ve seen it. It sends chills down my spine. But we have to put it back into perspective as to how incredibly rare that scenario is.

“I have been a marine biologist for 26 years and I’ve worked with a lot of the big sharks. I’ve done great white tagging in Australia. I have worked with tiger sharks and bull sharks. For me, probably one of the most peaceful creatures I know. If you were to go face to face with a polar bear, a saltwater crocodile, a grizzly bear, a wolf or anything of that nature, you’re unlikely to walk away without an incident.”

Sharks side-by-side with humans

“With sharks, it is remarkable how often humans and sharks are side-by-side and there is no incident. We’re now looking at surfers in Australia with great whites directly under them – the shark paying zero attention and the surfer completely unaware. This just doesn’t happen with a lot of these big predators. You don’t just brush shoulders with a grizzly bear in the woods.”

A recent spate of shark attacks has placed the spotlight on marine safety in the Red Sea. But the rarity of such incidents in the Arabian Gulf is not because large sharks do not live there.

Tiger sharks– The animal responsible for the fatal attack on Thursday was a tiger shark, Egypt’s Environment Ministry said on Friday. Large tiger sharks, as well as bull sharks and many other species, can be found in Gulf waters, Mr Hamilton said. The species, so-called for the striped pattern on their skin, is the second-largest predatory shark after the great white and can reach lengths of more than five metres.

Bull sharks– Another shark often associated with attacks on humans is the bull shark, which can swim in both seawater and freshwater, meaning encounters with humans happen more often around the world.

Hammerhead sharks– Sightings of both the scalloped and the great hammerhead – named after their unusually shaped heads – have been recorded in the Gulf. A lot of these species may not be big resident populations. They are just kind of coming through on routes we describe as cafes – they have a particular place where they like to snack and then they head to another area.

Whale sharks– The huge whale shark – the largest fish in the sea – can reach lengths of more than 18 metres. Yet it is known as much for its size as the fact it poses almost no threat to humans. Though despite its docile nature, the giant animal must still be respected.

Great white sharks– The most famous species of shark is undoubtedly the great white, the largest predatory shark and star of the Hollywood blockbuster Jaws. But they do not exist in the Arabian Gulf as far as research shows.

Comments

Source
The National

Related Articles

Back to top button