| I've always been fascinated by the Great White shark. | | | | faced with a predator that is as scary as the Great |
| In fact, there's no living thing on the planet that can fill | | | | White shark. However, they have only been |
| me with as much fear as this giant predator. The | | | | responsible for 65 human deaths since 1876. |
| thought of swimming along, and feeling those razor | | | | While this may seem like a lot, 65 human deaths in |
| sharp teeth sink into my leg, moments before it | | | | over 100 years is not that big a number. More people |
| thrashes its enormous head back and forth in an | | | | have died from natural disasters, such as earthquakes |
| attempt to tear my leg off is enough to keep me | | | | and tornadoes, than have been killed by the Great |
| awake at night. | | | | White. |
| I'm not the only one either. Peter Benchley realized this, | | | | Since 1876, the Great White has attacked, but not |
| and his book and subsequent movie, Jaws, has | | | | killed, another 242 people. This statistic shows that |
| managed to keep a great many people up at night, | | | | they don't necessarily think of humans as a natural |
| clutching their blankets in fear. | | | | source of food. In fact, the human body doesn't have |
| But is the Great White shark as bad as the movie | | | | enough fat. They would much rather feed on fat |
| portrays it? Is this giant predator misunderstood? | | | | mammals, such as the seal. |
| Before answering these questions, we have to | | | | In most cases, if a Great White bites a person, they let |
| understand what makes up the Great White shark. | | | | go and swim away. This also points to the fact that |
| The average Great White shark grows to be about | | | | scientists believe that most human attacks are owed |
| 10-15 feet in length. However, there are some that | | | | to mistaken identity. The Great White thinks we're |
| have grown to be over 20 feet in length. Their teeth | | | | something else, such as a seal, and decides to attack. |
| are serrated, and they are the seas only apex | | | | The Great White shark relies on ambush tactics to kill |
| predator, which means they have no natural predators. | | | | its prey. You'd think that something as large and lethal |
| The Great White is the only animal on the planet that | | | | would just swim in and use brute strength to kill their |
| has managed to be untamed by man. The few that | | | | prey, but this isn't the case. Instead they will try to |
| have been captured have died in captivity. | | | | attack from beneath, crippling their prey before dining. |
| The Great White feeds primarily on large prey, such | | | | While it's a fact that the Great White is a scary and |
| as dolphins, seals and whale carcasses. Being as big | | | | formidable predator, they're also beautiful to behold as |
| as they are, they require a lot of food to survive. They | | | | they glide through the oceans of the world. Our fear of |
| aren't picky when it comes to their meals, and a | | | | them has led to a significant amount of their deaths. |
| hungry one will eat practically anything that swims into | | | | Just like every animal, Great Whites perform their role |
| view. | | | | in nature. Even though they scare us, they have the |
| The Great White shark hunts by using its sense of | | | | right to exist and share the same planet as we do. |
| smell. It's also capable of sensing minute electrical | | | | They're also one of the few animals on the planet that |
| currents, which all living things exude. With these two | | | | defy science. Not a lot is known about them, but |
| awesome weapons at its disposal, this shark is one of | | | | hopefully in the years ahead, we'll understand them |
| the most fearsome predators to inhabit our planet. | | | | better and move away from the fear that popular |
| The movie, Jaws, preys on our natural instincts when | | | | fiction has instilled in us. |