Social media influencers are being warned to stop taking selfies with sharks after a series of attacks. Experts say people are getting too close to the marine creatures in their natural habitat, leading to injuries.
Recent incidents highlight the danger
Earlier this year, a diver in Brazil was bitten by a nurse shark while snorkelling. Tayane Dalazen was swimming close to the animal when it clamped down on her leg. She survived but was left with a large bite mark. She said: "I felt it shaking me by the leg. I thought I could not put my hand there, because it could rip it off. The guide had to hit it so it would let me go."
In July, another content creator, Henry Gibbs, was attacked by a grey reef shark while spearfishing in Fiji. He required four surgeries and a skin graft. Writing on Instagram, he admitted he had made mistakes: "I was in its environment hunting its food. Wrong place, wrong time, and there are definitely a few lessons I'll share when I post the footage in the hope it helps someone avoid ending up in the same situation and a bit on how to respond to it."
Experts and organisations weigh in
Eric Clua, a marine biologist at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris, told MailOnline that research shows the number of incidents caused by people getting too close to sharks is on the rise. He said social media videos are causing people to believe there is no risk. "The message transmitted by influencers is 'Look! Touch the shark, nothing will happen to you'," he said.
Sharkproject, an organisation working to protect shark populations, warns swimmers never to "touch, harass, or attract a shark". It advises staying with a group, keeping calm, and avoiding unnecessary movements. It adds: "Even if all these tips are followed, the risk can of course never be ruled out 100 per cent. Sharks are wild predators and can be dangerous to humans in certain situations and regions."
