RE: [Paddlewise] Shark Attack Mortality (Was Surf Drogue)

From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 00:05:07 +1100
Robert wrote
>Didn't you post a year or two ago about a guy who
>ran into a bull shark at one of the river mouth's
>while paddling?

G'Day Rob,

Richard has just described the event I was referring to. But I wonder why
the difference in ratio of attacks to deaths between California and
Australia is so large. Perhaps there is a difference in the way attacks are
defined and reported. I think over here an attack would be regarded as a
shark taking a bite, but when they bump into something they are just
checking if its edible and I don't think a bump would be regarded as an
attack even though it can leave a nasty abrasion.

The Bull Shark event was interesting in that the shark seemed to focus more
on the kayak than the paddler who was knocked out of his boat. I've heard
the same thing happen in western Australia seven years ago - again the shark
spent a fair bit of time beating up the kayak while the paddler was rescued
by his mates.

Over here we tend to regard Bull Sharks as the most dangerous, not because
of size or agression but because they are fairly indiscriminate about what
they eat - Bit like humans I guess:~).

All the best, PeterO
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Received on Mon Jan 10 2005 - 04:17:52 PST

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