![]() However, that did not help reduce the attack rates. During the 17 year period between the late fifties and mid seventies, many (about 4,700) Tiger Sharks were killed in order to offer protection to tourists. Such feeding only improves the chances of shark attacks. Most attacks can be attributed to tourists feeding the sharks, which is illegal. The most widely publicized attack in recent times is when in the year 2003, Bethany Hamilton, a young (13 years) American surfer lost her arm to an attack. It is documented that about four attacks happen every year and most of them are not fatal. Since Hawaii is a high tourist area with lots of swimmers, the rate of shark attacks in the area is surprisingly low. Tiger Sharks are seen frequently in the shallow waters of Hawaii. Thus, a Tiger Shark is predominantly an individual hunter and does not care much for social interaction, even within its own species. They are known to be one of the stronger swimmers.īeing a nocturnal creature and an aggressive hunter, they are known to even attack other sharks, especially while hunting. This makes them almost invisible to their prey and once the prey is in catching distance, the shark can muster great speeds to catch it. This species is a slow swimmer however, they blend very well with darker seas because of their color. Because of their habits of entering canals and harbors, the risk of human encounter is quite high and this shark is considered dangerous to humans. In coastal waters, they can also be seen at depths between 20 feet to 40 feet. That’s considered to be way too shallow for its size. Conversely, they have been spotted in the shallow waters of Hawaii in a depth of only about 10 feet. While most Tiger Sharks are found in those regions, they have also been spotted as far South as Cape Cod and as far North as Japan.įound at average depths of around 350 meters (about 1100 feet), they have also been seen at depths exceeding 900 meters or about 3,000 feet (more than a half mile). They are also found near New Zealand, Australia, India, Africa and China. They are abundantly found in the Caribbean region in addition to the North American beaches, and the Gulf of Mexico. Even though they are known to prefer deep water, they will sometimes come into shallower water to enter reefs and canals in pursuit of prey. Although this shark is a nomad, its movements are almost always guided by water temperatures and deep waters. This shark prefers warm waters and tropical temperatures. ![]() They’ve also been recently put on the Marine red list, which makes it illegal to fish or hunt Tiger Sharks across the world. Due to such heavy fishing practices, the population of this shark has dwindled.Ĭurrently, the Tiger Shark is considered near threatened due to its hunting by humans. More specifically, the liver is very rich in vitamin A and is used to manufacture vitamin pills. ![]() The sharks skin, fins, liver and flesh are considered to be delicacies. This is a prize catch for many fisheries, especially in tropical locations. It is also prone to being fished out frequently. Because this shark enjoys visiting canals, harbors and shallow reefs, which are often areas used by humans, a Tiger Shark is considered dangerous and has the second largest number of attack data after the Great White Shark. In turn they are hunted by humans for game and finning. Their normal prey includes smaller shark species and a variety of fish, dolphins, birds, turtles, crustaceans and squid. Found around the Pacific Islands, the they prefer to hunt in the dark.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |