Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
The growing number of shark bites is due to social media influencers encouraging tourists to try to pet this type of marine predator, The Times reported this Friday, which claims that selfie seekers are fueling the increase in shark attacks.
The British newspaper echoes an article published March 10 in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science, in which a group of scientists report they have discovered that sharks can bite humans in self-defense.
The researchers note that these types of bites occur in response to a human action that is or is perceived as aggressive, detailing that there are usually no warning signs, they can occur repeatedly, and they usually leave superficial, non-lethal wounds.
"We show that shark defensive bites on humans — a reaction to initial human aggression — are a reality and that the animal should not be held responsible or guilty when they happen," said Eric Clua, a researcher at the Paris Research University of Sciences and Letters in France and lead author of the study. "These bites are simply a manifestation of the survival instinct, and responsibility for the incident should be reversed," he added.
In this sense, he recommended that people not physically interact with these types of marine animals, even if they seem harmless or are in danger. "At any time, they may consider it aggression and react accordingly. They are potentially dangerous animals, and not touching them is not only wise, but also a sign of the respect we owe them," he argued. (Text and Photo: RT)
