WHEN the blockbuster movie Jaws came out in 1975, it created a fear of sharks in many people.
The movie is now considered iconic in pop culture – it's about how a great white shark terrorises a summer resort town and a team consisting of a police officer, a biologist and a fisherman hunts the shark down.
A 2015 study found that over half of Americans have a fear of sharks and 38% are so afraid that they avoid swimming in the ocean.
But are sharks actually as bloodthirsty as depicted in the movie?
Verdict:
FALSE
Hollywood really does have a knack for drama. Although Jaws was all fiction, with the realism in how the shark chomps up all its victims, one could be forgiven for thinking they could end up as their next meal if they ever set foot in the ocean.
But in truth, sharks don't actually prefer eating humans. Yes, they are carnivorous but humans are definitely not among their favourite foods. They tend to feed on other ocean creatures, like crabs, fish, squid and even marine mammals like sea lions.
The funny thing is over 75% of all shark species will almost never encounter a human being and/or are incapable of consuming one.
Do sharks go erratic when they get a whiff of human blood? Not necessarily. They may have a good sense of smell but they are selective predators.
Some sharks may be curious if they smell blood but they're more likely to pay attention to the scent of the animals they naturally hunt.
If you ever end up snorkelling or diving in shark-populated waters, just remember that sharks are more likely to mind their own business.
References:
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/shark-myths-and-facts/
https://thenaturenetwork.co.uk/the-truth-about-sharks-and-blood-theyre-not-as-obsessed-as-you-think/
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/sharks-rays/sharks
