The document discusses sharks and the misunderstandings people have about them. It notes that while movies like Jaws fueled fear of sharks, shark attacks are actually quite rare. Of the hundreds of shark species, only a few have been known to attack humans, usually due to mistaken identity. The document aims to dispel myths about sharks and show that humans are far more threatening to sharks than sharks are to humans.

1. Megan Heffron Computer Literacy Educ 462 November 29, 2004 Science: Grade 3 MMH213 [email_address] Dr. Coffman TERROR OF SHARKS

2. CONTENTS Sharks Have a Bad Reputation Shark Attacks Most Dangerous to Humans Mistaken Identity Predators- HUMANS Myths About Shark

3. Sharks Have a Bad Reputation Movies and media play a huge role in this stereotype

4. The 1975 film “Jaws” about a killer shark, scared audiences out of the water, and fueled a worldwide hatred and fear of sharks. jawsmovie.com

5. Media Role “ Summer of the Shark” Last year shark attacks were all over our TV screens Less attacks that year than the previous but on TV more Little Boy gets arm ripped off by shark and heroic uncle goes in after the shark This is one reason the media plays up on attacks

6. Bethany Hamilton a 13 year old girl attacked while surfing Media covered this story and it was seen all over the world- “Vicious shark rips girls arm off!”

7. When is the most likely time to encounter a shark- FEEDING TIME Dawn till 10am and 2-4 pm

8. Shark Attacks Many People think this is the result when a shark is nearby This is very wrong, in actuality the chances of being bitten by a shark are slim to none. In the United States, the chances of drowning are 1000 times greater than being attacked by a shark.

9. World Shark Attacks 48 6 54 1999 48 12 60 1998 40 3 43 1997 63 11 74 1996 53 9 62 1995 41 14 55 1994 41 14 55 1993 48 7 55 1992 35 3 38 1991 35 2 37 1990 NON-FATAL FATAL TOTAL ATTACKS YEAR

10. Sharks are in the water with humans all the time and yet you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than bitten by a shark!!!!

11. There are over 344 species of sharks and only 27 have been accused of attacking humans Those three sharks include:

12. Great White (Carcharodon Carcharias)

13. Bull Shark (Carcharhinus Leucas)

14. Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo Cuviev)

15. Mistaken Identity One of the main reasons that scientists believe that sharks attack surfers is because a person on a surfboard resembles the sharks normal prey, a seal.

16. Another reason that may be a cause of shark attacks on man is a confusion state for the shark. Shark feeding is becoming more and more popular as a tourist attraction and sharks are relating humans to food.

17. Humans are sharks #1 Predator Humans hunt and kill sharks for several reasons To eat Cosmetics Pills Prizes Test their masculinity Net Protection

18. People eat all different kinds of sharks One of the most common types of food is shark fin soup Food Source

19. Cosmetics The gallbladder and part of the shark’s liver have been shown to improve acne and other skin complaints.

20. Pills Health pills made from shark’s liver claim to reduce the incident of heart disease and cancer, and to increase longevity. For many years, shark livers were used as a source of vitamin A and E until a synthetic alternative was discovered in the 1950’s

21. Prizes Jewelry - Shark Teeth Souvenirs - Jaws from a shark

22. Testing their strength Man has been hunting sharks for years to prove that they are the more dominant species. It is a way for men to test their masculinity and in turn, thousands upon thousands of sharks die each year.

23. Netting In order to protect bathers, fishing nets are laid across the ocean so that sharks can not swim to close to shore

24. The only problem is that sharks get caught in the nets and die

25. Many people don’t care because it is only a shark that is dead- But What If…

26. It was a dolphin, would you feel differently????

27. Myths About Sharks Sharks have peanut size brains and are incapable of learning False, Shark’s relatively large and complex brains are comparable in size to those of supposedly more advanced animals like mammals and birds . Sharks are useless fish No way, sharks are a critical part of marine ecosystems, a source for knowledge to help medical conditions, and the basis of a valuable fishery.

28. Some More Myths Sharks prefer human blood False, most sharks do not appear to be especially interested in the blood of mammals as opposed to fish blood A shark will attack every time in contact with a person False, people are in the water with sharks all the time and do not get attacked

29. Sharks are one of the most amazing animals Don’t fear them, rather admire them for their beauty and grace

30. Bibliography Bethany Hamilton. www.theage/com/au/.../htm Bull Shark . www.floridamarine.org/gallery/view_categroy.com Cosmetic Container. www.obeck.com/pages/cosmetic%20&%20personal%2 Dolphin in Net . news.bbc.co.uk/…/newsid_2848000/2848623.stm Ellis, Richard. Great White Shark . Stanford University Press. California, 1991. Freedman, Russell . Sharks . Holiday House, New York, 1985 Great White in Net. www.calacademy.org/aquarium/sharks.html Great White Title . thegreenman.net.au/mt/archives/2003_08.html Jaws Movie . www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/duds/jaws.htm Jaws Souvenir . www.einsteins-emporium.com/.../1ss34.htm Jaws Theme Sound Clip. http://www.jawsmoviesounds.html Man Feeding Shark . www.stockphotography.co.uk/store/app/zoom.asp Mistaken Identity . www.calacademy.org/research/aquatics/sharks.html Need a Bigger Boat Sound Clip. http://www.jawsmoviesounds.htm Pope, Joyce. 1001 Facts About Sharks.Dk Publishing, INC. New York, 2002 Shark Attacks . www.thesharkdoctor.com/shark-attacks1.jpg Shark Attacking Helicopter. Bissels.com/cindy/funstuff/funphotos/shark.htm Shark Caught by Fishermen. www.ifyoudive.com/.../?objectID=4573515 Shark in Water with Surfer. www.auseyber.net/shark/ Shark Jumping out of Water . www.seas-expo.com/.../ great%20white%20shark.htm Shark Gallery. http://gerber.iwarp.com/Attack/statistics.htm Shark Media. Emorysmemeories.tripod.com/websale/all_other_m Shark Teeth . www.jawsandteeth.com/shark_teeth_necklaces.htm Taylor, Ron and Valerie. Sharks Silent Hunters of the Deep . Readers Digest. New York, 1995 Tiger Shark. www.bigmarinefish.com/photos_shark_pg1.html .