As tragic as it is to read of someone losing his life to a shark, it's also an opportunity to reflect on our place in one of the planet's last true wildernesses. I live and float in what the media love to luridly describe as "the Red Triangle," an area of Central California noted for its healthy population of pinnipeds and (consequently) great white sharks. Attacks are extremely rare, fatalities rarer. The animals clearly don't regard humans as a prey species, but occasionally mistakes will happen. Thanks to their habit of biting and releasing prey, only to return for feeding when the animal has bled to death, people are usually able to escape. Great whites frequently show scarring on and around their eyes from encounters with seals and sea lions, so their caution appears warranted. We are the apex predator, and knowing that there's an animal in the vicinity -- Alaskan brown bear, shark -- that may mistake us for food alters our perspective subtly but profoundly. Most animals live with constant awareness of predation. Sometimes, we're lucky enough to feel the shadow of that ourselves. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: "Mark Paxton" <paxtonm_at_hotmail.com> <snip> > We are the apex predator, and knowing that there's an animal in the vicinity > -- Alaskan brown bear, shark -- that may mistake us for food alters our > perspective subtly but profoundly. Most animals live with constant > awareness of predation. Sometimes, we're lucky enough to feel the shadow of > that ourselves. Well said, Mark. For those who would like more information about sharks (behavior, habitat) etc., you can find a load of links to factual information without the media hype at http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/sharks.html Cheers, Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Very well stated, Mark. I share the same coast and the same exact view, never could I have voiced it as well. on 9/1/2000 9:31 AM, Mark Paxton at paxtonm_at_hotmail.com wrote: > As tragic as it is to read of someone losing his life to a shark, it's also > an opportunity to reflect on our place in one of the planet's last true > wildernesses. I live and float in what the media love to luridly describe > as "the Red Triangle," an area of Central California noted for its healthy > population of pinnipeds and (consequently) great white sharks. Attacks are > extremely rare, fatalities rarer. The animals clearly don't regard humans > as a prey species, but occasionally mistakes will happen. Thanks to their > habit of biting and releasing prey, only to return for feeding when the > animal has bled to death, people are usually able to escape. Great whites > frequently show scarring on and around their eyes from encounters with seals > and sea lions, so their caution appears warranted. > > We are the apex predator, and knowing that there's an animal in the vicinity > -- Alaskan brown bear, shark -- that may mistake us for food alters our > perspective subtly but profoundly. Most animals live with constant > awareness of predation. Sometimes, we're lucky enough to feel the shadow of > that ourselves. > > Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at > http://profiles.msn.com. > > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: > Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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