The Dorsal Fin

In light of all the oil-filled footage that we’ve seen over the past month, I thought it might be refreshing to share some relatively pristine whale shark footage. This video is from YouTube user OceansBelowKohTao and was shot at Koh Tao, Thailand in 2008. It features some exceptional underwater whale shark footage. Happy viewing!

I really like the second half of the video clip above from NatGeo Wild. It’s actually rich with information about how sharks locate meals. It also educates the audience about ampullae of Lorenzini, and the hammerhead shark’s unique head shape.

Unfortunately, the first half of the video contains ominous warnings about humans and hammerheads being on a “collision course,” because they happen to occupy the same body of water. This is followed by some relatively graphic “attack” footage that seems to be forced into the segment, as it really has nothing to do with the narrator’s discussion of the hammerhead shark. In fact, not long after the second instance of faux shark attack footage, the narrator asserts that the scalloped hammerhead sharks in question “don’t appear to look upon humans as a potential meal.”

The video does go on to redeem itself after the unnecessary “attack” footage, but it makes me wonder why the clip has scenes of panicking victims and bloody water, in the first place. I also question why the information describing the video refers to the hammerhead as a “vicious shark” who “never lets a human get between it and a tasty meal,” when the main theme of the video speaks to the contrary.

I’ve enjoyed National Geographic’s offerings ever since I can remember, and it was a National Geographic feature on white sharks that first piqued my interest in sharks when I was barely old enough to read. It makes me wonder if a young child were watching this clip whether they would be more likely to remember the worthwhile information in the second half of the clip or the scenes of an implied shark attack.

Adventurer, Wave Vidmar, hopes to gather data on white sharks during his solo row from the U.S. to Europe.

In an update to yesterday’s post about Atlantic white sharks following row boats, solo rower Wave Vidmar was kind enough to elaborate on the statement from the press release regarding his upcoming solo ocean row. Vidmar said that during the journeys of the four people who have successfully rowed solo from North America to Europe, similar experiences occurred involving white sharks following their boats for hours to days and that some of the boats were “attacked” by the sharks, in the sense that the sharks mouthed/bit the boats.

While this behavior may not be “typical,” per se, of Atlantic white shark behavior, Vidmar says that it does appear to be a typical behavior observed by solo ocean rowers making the journey from North America to Europe.

Mr. Vidmar believes in the importance of research and has done a great deal of research not only in preparation for this journey but also for other conservation projects along the Pacific Coast. According to the press release about Vidmar’s upcoming trek, he hopes to be equipped with a “shark tag” in the event that he encounters a great white shark, in order to tag the animal and potentially provide researchers with more insight into their behavior in the wild.

You can follow Vidmar’s upcoming ocean row adventure at Ocean Row Solo.

Do Atlantic Great White Sharks typically follow row boats for "hours to days" only to eventually attack them?

According to then I-Newswire press release, “Explorer welcomes attacks by Great White Sharks,” professional explorer Wave Vidmar is planning a solo ocean row from the USA to Europe for “science, research, education, and of course the adventure of it all.” Vidmar’s boat will feature Kevlar in its construction for “shark protection.”

The press release goes on to make the claim that…

“Typically Atlantic Great White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) will follow the tiny ocean row boats for hours to days, then attack by biting the backs of the boats.”

If anybody can direct me to any research or evidence that supports this claim, I’d appreciate it. I have never come across anything that seems to indicate this is “typical” of Atlantic white sharks.

Update: Solo ocean rower, Wave Vidmar, has provided some more information regarding white sharks following the boats of solo ocean rowers across the Atlantic.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Discovery Channel was planning to include a re-enactment of the shark attack that took the life of Stuart, Florida kite-boarder earlier this year. The TC Palm has since reported that Discovery has pulled the re-enactment from their Shark Week 2010 programming.

Lindsay Schimer, an associate producer with the company behind “Day of the Shark III” had originally announced that the Stuart, Florida attack would not only be featured on the show but would also include a re-enactment of the attack. In an about-face, Schimer announced last Wednesday that the segment “will not be part of our show this year.” According to the TC Palm, Schimer did not give a reason why the segment had been pulled, and phone and email messages left with a publicist for the Discovery Channel went were not returned.

Stephanie Forsberg, a long-time friend of the victim, believes that a “bombardment” of phone calls and emails from the victim’s friends and family members is what led to the segment being pulled. The TC Palm quoted Forsberg as saying…

“It’s cool to hear that our voices were heard. A lot of companies wouldn’t care; they’d just go for the ratings. It’s good that we spoke up, that (the show’s producers) heard us and they have a heart.”

Forsberg also went on to say that she had spoken with the victim’s mother, who “very happy” that the segment had been pulled.

It’s good to hear that somebody involved with Discovery’s Shark Week is listening and has put the concerns of the victim’s friends and family ahead of ratings.

Thanks to Patric at SharkDiver for the heads-up on this story.