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Fatal attack by a juvenile tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, on a kitesurfer in New Caledonia (South Pacific)
Abstract
We present a case of a non-provoked fatal shark attack on a 15-year old male kitesurfer in New Caledonia. The victim lost his board and was pulled by the sail along the water surface in a reef passage when a shark attacked. The shark inflicted at least two bites on the left leg, including a severe one around the knee, resulting in a quick hypovolemic shock that was fatal. The analysis of one of these bites indicated that a 2.8 m TL (est. length) tiger shark was responsible for this attack. The features of the attack are consistent with those of a predator response to a surface feeding stimulus.
... Case study C: description of the wounds on a 15-year-old male kite surfer who was fatally bitten in a reef passage of the barrier reef of New Caledonia (adapted from Ref. [47]) ...
... As mentioned in the autopsy report, the death was undoubtedly caused by a cardiopulmonary collapse due to the huge haemorrhage following the severing of the left femoral blood vessel through the first wound. The analysis of the first wound (W1) revealed that it was probably the result of two different adjacent and overlapping bites or one single bite inflicted as the leg was bending (see [47] for details). Analysis of the lower bite showed that the orientation of the tooth impressions and their shape, together with the small, smoothly sliced flaps, and the very smooth arc of the upper jaw bite, indicate a tiger shark as probably responsible for this attack. ...
... These impressions are more or less parallel and have sharp cut corners, which is consistent with a tiger shark ( Figure 11A). Also, the shape of the tooth impressions shows no clear morphological differences between those from the upper and lower jaws, indicating dignathic homodont jaws [47], characteristic of the tiger shark, compared to the white shark and bull shark which have dignathic heterodont jaws. In addition to these elements, the shape of some flesh flaps showed that there was an almost overlapping between the teeth ( Figure 11A and B). ...
... This was a continuous case series. A nonprovoked shark attack was defined as aggressive physical contact between one or multiple sharks and a human in a shark's natural habitat, without human provocation, 15 that results in physical injuries. ...
... Multiple case reports have been published in this context. 3,15,20 It is hard to identify patterns with these varied cases, and statistical analysis should be interpreted with caution. ...
... Hypovolemic shock was the most common cause of death in our case series, as in the literature. 3,4,6,15 The attack was fatal each time subfascial injuries of the trunk occurred (thoracic, abdominal, pelvic). 2,6 Any witness to a shark attack must not hesitate to apply a tourniquet, given the massive bleeding and the relative harmlessness of excessive tourniquet use, considering the availability of surgical treatment. ...
Background:
Between January 2000 and September 2016, there have been 27 documented shark attacks on La Réunion Island. The insular nature of La Réunion has allowed us to carry out an extensive survey of these attacks. The objective was to describe the clinical features of these shark attacks, as only case reports have been published up to now.
Methods:
This was a retrospective observational study of the 27 cases of non-provoked shark attacks that have occurred between January 2000 and September 2016. Post-humate predation, provoked attacks and isolated attack on devices were excluded. All bone and vascular injuries were documented in the 21 remaining cases. Prehospital tourniquet use was specifically recorded.
Results:
Among the 21 victims, 8 died (38%) despite rapid use of resuscitation techniques in 5 cases when it was feasible; these techniques were not needed in the survivors. Thirteen patients were immediately treated in the operating room. Amputation or disarticulation occurred 13 times in 10 victims, 5 of whom died. Twelve injuries to major vascular structures were found in 11 victims, 6 of which died. A prehospital tourniquet was applied in 4 of the 5 surviving victims who had injuries to major vascular structures (including 1 victim with major humeral and femoral artery damage) and in 1 victim who died (the very proximal wound was not controlled).
Conclusion:
Our study found that quickly applying a tourniquet to the injured limb(s) contributes to the victim's survival. Disarticulation is a particular feature of shark attacks. The number and severity of shark attacks at La Réunion Island are worse than in the rest of the world.
Level of evidence:
Epidemiological study, IV.
... When a shark bites soft tissue, depending on whether or not these teeth are present, they will potentially leave marks that can help to identify the species (see Ref. [15]). ...
... Based on the above-mentioned anatomical differences, the comparison of the features of bite marks in the real world can indicate the presence or absence of symphyseal teeth. In the case of a WS, the absence of symphyseal teeth and the wideness of the symphyseal space will-most of the time-allow the cutting of a flesh slap as it was observed on the leg of a young surfer, fatally bitten by a 2.7 m total length (TL) WS in New Caledonia in 2011 [16] (Figure 1A,A').On the contrary, small teeth imprints were observed on the leg of a young kitesurfer who was fatally bitten (based on other bites) by a 2.8 m TL TS in New Caledonia in 2013[15] (Figure 2B). Our third case study from Eastern Australia involves a bite on a surfer by a 2.8 m TL BS, including two small symphyseal tooth imprints (Figure 2C). ...
Identifying the species of shark responsible for a bite on humans is both complex and important for understanding and managing the shark risk. Depending on the species, tiny teeth may or may not be present in the symphyseal space at the junction of the upper and lower half-jaws. In the case of bites, these tiny teeth (if present) often leave specific marks that may enable species to be quickly and reliably distinguished. We first present the anatomo-morphological characteristics of the jaws of the three most traumatogenic species for humans which are the white, tiger, and bull sharks. The white shark has no symphyseal teeth, while the tiger and bull sharks do. On the basis of three confirmed real case studies involving those species, we then show that for the white shark, the wide symphyseal space between the first two teeth of each jaw usually leads to wounds including the presence of (quite) large flesh flaps, without any tooth imprint. Conversely, wounds following bites made by the tiger and bull sharks will generally leave characteristic small imprints of symphyseal teeth, especially in the case of incomplete or superficial bites. Although not systematic, this diagnostic approach provides fast, reliable, and clean results. The discrimination between two species with symphyseal teeth can then be made on the basis of complementary anatomic information such as jaw curvature and details linked to the anatomy of the teeth themselves, as well as the ecological context. K E Y W O R D S bull shark, marine predator identification, shark bites, symphyseal teeth, tiger shark, white shark
... F) ( Figure 1). The images were used to determine the species based on: (a) bite shape and size and (b) shape of teeth impressions, following Long and Jones (1996), Clua, Bescond and Reid (2014), and Clua and Reid (2018). ...
... Comparatively, other regular predators of odontocetes found in the State of Ceará coast, C. carcharias and C. leucas (Heithaus, 2001b;Jucá-Queiroz et al., 2008), do not feature a bite and tooth morphology compatible with the marks observed in this study. Both C. carcharias and C. leucas leave pointed marks, and their teeth are relatively more separated than Tiger Shark teeth (Clua, Bescond and Reid, 2014). The C. obscurus is not considered a regular predator of odontocetes, being rarely involved in this predation (Heithaus, 2001b), and is therefore less likely to have inflicted the bites. ...
A Short-finned Pilot Whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, was found dead and with shark bites along its body on
a beach in northeast Brazil. The present study aimed to identify the shark species responsible for the bites as well
as to estimate its/their total length. Species identification was performed using the bite marks, which were of the
same diameter, suggesting they were inflected by one or more Tiger sharks of similar size. The characteristics of
the bites and the shape and distribution of the marks left by the teeth pointed to the Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier.
The total length of the Tiger Shark or sharks was estimated at between 257 and 288 cm, based on the perimeter
contour of each bite and the interdental distance inferred from the marks on the whale. This suggests that the bites
were inflicted by one or more sub-adult specimens.
Abstract
Descriptors: Galeocerdo cuvier; Bite wounds, Cetacean, Predation.
... Shark attacks often terminate after this initial trauma. In some attacks, more substantial amounts of soft tissue are removed (Clua et al. 2014;Clua and Reid 2013), leading to death. When consumption is pursued, chunks of soft tissue or whole smaller species or juveniles are swallowed, and whole teeth or fragments thereof are sometimes left in wounds (Ihama et al. 2009;İşcan and McCabe 1995;Lentz et al. 2010). ...
... As indicated above, shark teeth or fragments thereof can be left behind in soft tissue (Anderson et al. 2003;Stock et al. 2017), making it possible to identify the consuming species directly and not just by inference from the bite mark morphology or from witness statements. The interdental distance (i.e., the distance between teeth) and the bite circumference (i.e., overall size of the mouth) can be used to estimate the species of shark and its body length (Clua et al. 2014;Clua and Reid 2013;Jublier and Clua 2018;Lowry et al. 2009;Stock et al. 2017). Nambiar et al. (1991) noted a general correlation between bite and tooth mark size and the overall body length of great white sharks causing the trauma. ...
Marine environments and coastal areas are a frequent source of remains undergoing forensic investigation, given the frequency of remains introduced from homicide, suicide, and accidents, and the concentration of human activity along coastlines. This chapter examines the many types of taphonomic effects accrued in marine environments. These include (1) alterations by scavengers, including sharks and arthropods, (2) colonization/bioerosion by organisms, including algae/kelp, barnacles, mollusks, Osedax worms, coral, sponges, and bryozoans, (3) sediment abrasion, battering, rounding, windowing, and embedding and salt crystal formation, (4) marine bleaching and mineral staining, and (5) more general changes including fat leaching and overall bone preservation. The propensity for remains to be transported and the factors that increase this likelihood, including decompositional bloating, are also examined. In addition, this chapter presents methods of estimating the postmortem submergence interval (PMSI) in these environments, including degree of decomposition and the stage of marine abrasion and other accrued taphonomic effects on exposed bones.
... A slight increase in fatalities in recent decades is attributed to concomitant significant increases in the number of ocean users (Ferretti et al. 2015;West 2011) combined with the emergence of new sports such as kite surfing that have extended human marine recreational activities into new, previously unused, and potentially dangerous areas (Clua, Bescond, and Reid 2014). Although rare, these human fatalities receive disproportionate media attention, with considerable psychological and economic repercussions, especially on island economies on the basis of beach tourism (Chapman and McPhee 2016). ...
It is widely accepted that populations of terrestrial predators sometimes contain “problem individuals” that repeatedly attackhumans, yet this phenomenon has never been demonstrated in sharks. Here, we present photographic and genetic evidence of
individuals in populations of tiger Galeocerdo cuvier and oceanic whitetip Carcharhinus longimanus sharks that (1) demonstrated atypical behavior compared to the rest of the population, (2) engaged in repeated agonistic behavior directed toward humans, and
(3) bit, or attempted to bite humans in probable foraging attempts. These case studies provide some of the first evidence for the existence of “problem individuals” among sharks. The percentage of fatalities due to the same shark individual are not known, so
we recommend systematic swabbing of shark bite victims wounds to better understand the importance of this phenomenon and the possibility of identifying these animals. Environmentally conscientious management options for problem individuals range from prohibiting ocean activities (e.g., swimming and surfing) in their habitats to selectively removing the individual, although the latter would be challenging in the marine environment.
... A slight increase in fatalities in recent decades is attributed to concomitant significant increases in the number of ocean users (Ferretti et al. 2015;West 2011) combined with the emergence of new sports such as kite surfing that have extended human marine recreational activities into new, previously unused, and potentially dangerous areas (Clua, Bescond, and Reid 2014). Although rare, these human fatalities receive disproportionate media attention, with considerable psychological and economic repercussions, especially on island economies on the basis of beach tourism (Chapman and McPhee 2016). ...
It is widely accepted that populations of terrestrial predators sometimes contain “problem individuals” that repeatedly attack humans, yet this phenomenon has never been demonstrated in sharks. Here, we present photographic and genetic evidence of individuals in populations of tiger Galeocerdo cuvier and oceanic whitetip Carcharhinus longimanus sharks that (1) demonstrated atypical behavior compared to the rest of the population, (2) engaged in repeated agonistic behavior directed toward humans, and (3) bit, or attempted to bite humans in probable foraging attempts. These case studies provide some of the first evidence for the existence of “problem individuals” among sharks. The percentage of fatalities due to the same shark individual are not known, so we recommend systematic swabbing of shark bite victims wounds to better understand the importance of this phenomenon and the possibility of identifying these animals. Environmentally conscientious management options for problem individuals range from prohibiting ocean activities (e.g., swimming and surfing) in their habitats to selectively removing the individual, although the latter would be challenging in the marine environment.
... In this case, the behavior of the human contributes minimally to the genesis of aggression. (Balbridge & Williams, 1969;Randall & Levy, 1976;Balbridge, 1988;Ibahama et al., 2009;Clua & Seret, 2010;Clua & Reid, 2013;Clua et al., 2014;Clua & Linnell, 2018;Clua et al., 2021) Each mechanism includes its main triggering factors: (A) Close proximity between shark and human; (B) accidental bite on human; (C) feeding motivation targeting natural prey; (D) deliberate single bite on human; (E) deliberate repeated bites on human; (F) actual aggression by human towards shark; (G) anticipated aggression by human towards shark; (H) agonistic display by shark; (I) feeding motivation targeting a human. NB: The five bite motivations in the first column are described in Klimley et al. (2023). ...
The effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on wildlife aggression toward humans have received little attention. Records from French Polynesia show that the annual average of about five shark bites on humans from 2009 to 2019 increased significantly to 15 in 2020, despite the virtual absence of humans from the marine environment during a six-week curfew in April-May 2020. Bites then returned to baseline levels in 2021 (N = 4), 2022 (N = 5), and 2023 (N = 2). Most bites in 2020 occurred just after the lockdown and were attributed to gray reef sharks, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, displaying territoriality rather than self-defense or predatory behaviours. This temporary increase in shark bites suggests that natural territorial behavior, typically suppressed by continued human presence, reemerged during the Anthropause, providing new insights into shark risks for ocean users and the management of human-predator interactions.
... The nature and incidence of animal attacks on humans varies between different regions of the world depending on the fauna present and the extent of the interactions between humans and animals. Many animals have been reported to attack and bite living humans, with most attacks being caused by the order of carnivorous mammals such as canids (e.g., dog, wolf; [22,23]), felids (e.g., cat, lion, tiger; [24,25]), ursids (e.g., brown bear, polar bear; [26,27]), and non-human Primates (e.g., chimpanzee, gorilla, macaque; [28,29]), as well as by ungulated mammals such as suids (e.g., domestic pig, wild boar; [30,31]) and hippopotamids (e.g., hippopotamus; [32]), by rodent mammals (e.g., rat, squirrel; [33,34]), by reptiles (e.g., crocodile, iguana; Komodo dragon; [35][36][37]), and even by sharks (e.g., white shark, tiger shark; [38][39][40]), among other animals. Similarly, animal scavenging is also relatively frequent in forensic investigations, where animal activity in outdoor settings is one of the main taphonomic agents that significantly affects the preservation of a human corpse when recovered from the area of deposition [41] (see Section 3.4. ...
Veterinary forensics is becoming more important in our society as a result of the growing demand for investigations related to crimes against animals or investigations of criminal deaths caused by animals. A veterinarian may participate as an expert witness or may be required to give forensic assistance, by providing knowledge of the specialty to establish a complete picture of the involvement of an animal and allowing the Courts to reach a verdict. By applying diverse dental profiling techniques, not only can species, sex, age-at-death, and body size of an animal be estimated, but also data about their geographical origin (provenance) and the post-mortem interval. This review concentrates on the dental techniques that use the characteristics of teeth as a means of identification of freshly deceased and skeletonised animals. Furthermore, this highlights the information that can be extracted about the animal from the post-mortem dental profile.
... As a consequence, the species involved is not positively identified in ~70% of global shark bite incidents (data from the International Shark Attack Files, 2010-2019 bites; floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/). It may be possible to use bite impressions left in victims or their apparel or accessories (e.g., wetsuits or surfboards) to identify culprit species, but even experts using this approach have disagreed over the interpretation of bite impressions [4][5][6][7][8]. Modern DNA technology provides a potential tool for definitive species identification provided sufficient DNA is transferred from the shark to the victim or victim's articles (e.g., surfboard, wetsuit, paddle) and adheres despite immersion in seawater. ...
Identifying the species involved in shark bite incidents is an ongoing challenge but is important to mitigate risk. We developed a sampling protocol to identify shark species from DNA transferred to inanimate objects during bite incidents. To develop and refine the technique, we swabbed shark bite impressions on surfboards and wetsuit neoprene collected under semicontrolled conditions. Methods were tested experimentally and then successfully used to identify the species involved in a real-world shark bite incident. Thirty-two of 33 bite impressions yielded sufficient DNA sequences for species identification, producing barcodes from five test species, including dusky, Galapagos, bull, tiger, and white shark. The latter three species collectively account for a majority of shark bites worldwide. Our method successfully identified the species (Galeocerdo cuvier) responsible for a fatal shark bite on December 8th, 2020 on the island of Maui, from swab samples collected from the victim's surfboard 49 h after the bite incident. Our experimental results demonstrate that shark species can be accurately identified from transfer DNA recovered from bite impressions on surfboards and wetsuit neoprene. The successful use of our method in the real-world incident shows great potential for the practicality of this tool. We recommend DNA swabbing as a routine part of the forensic analysis of shark bites to help identify the species involved in human-shark interactions.
... Most sharks do not attack humans without provocation, but among those that do the most dangerous are white (Carcharodon carcharias), tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), and bull (Carcharhinus leucas) sharks (Burgess, 1991;Burgess and Callahan, 1996;Caldicott et al., 2001;Clua et al., 2014;Coppleson, 1962;Davies and Campbell, 1962;Howard and Burgess, 1993;˙I şcan and McCabe, 1995;Nakaya, 1993). Unprovoked shark attacks tend to follow three patterns -'hit-and-run', 'bump-andbite', and 'sneak' attacks (Burgess, 1991). ...
Modern shark attacks are uncommon and archaeological examples are even rarer, with the oldest previously known case dating to ca. AD 1000. Here we report a shark attack on an adult male radiocarbon dated to 1370–1010 cal BC during the fisher-hunter-gatherer Jo ̄mon period of the Japanese archipelago. The individual was buried at the Tsukumo site near Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, where modern shark attacks have been reported. The victim has at least 790 perimortem traumatic lesions characteristic of a shark attack, including deep, incised bone gouges, punctures, cuts with overlapping striations and perimortem blunt force fractures. Lesions were mapped onto a 3D model of the human skeleton using a Geographical Information System to assist visualisation and analysis of the injuries. The distribution of wounds suggests the victim was probably alive at the time of attack rather than scavenged. The most likely species of shark responsible for the attack is either a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) or a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Shortly after the attack most, though not all, of his body was recovered and buried in the Tsukumo cemetery.
... Available historic data before the 1990s dealing with fatal attacks on humans in New Caledonia does not allow a reliable identification of the species involved. More recent fatal attacks that were thoroughly documented show that a white shark was responsible for a fatal attack on a woman on Luengoni beach (Lifou) in 2007 (Clua and Séret 2010) and another fatal strike on a young male surfer near Bourail (Grande Terre) in 2009 (Clua and Reid 2013), while a tiger shark was responsible for a fatal attack on a young male kitesurfer in Kendec pass near Koumac (Grande Terre) in 2011 (Clua et al. 2014). Regarding the myths involving large sharks, however, details seldom allow a determinationof which species is meant, except in some instances in which a white color is mentioned, favoring the white shark. ...
This study focuses on the important role of sharks in the Melanesian mythology. Based on unpublished stories essentially originating from New Caledonia, we show how strong the links are between myths and the physical environment in which Kanak live. As prevalent mythical animals, sharks can indifferently play the role of avengers and righters of wrongs, or vehicles for the spirits of living or dead people. They can be either allies or enemies in wars, and their role as potential man‐killers is never overlooked. However, when humans are attacked and killed by a shark, it is always for a material reason: the victim broke a rule or a tabu, the shark was an enemy, the sharks withdrew protection, the event allowed a pregnant woman to reach a new territory, etc. Beyond arbitrary metaphysical justifications, such perceptions reflect respect for social and natural order. For Kanak ni‐Vanuatu and other Pacific Islander peoples, sharks are part of a coherent Nature that includes natural and social hazards. In the quest for sustainable development of the planet, more in harmony with Nature, so‐called ‘developed societies’ might draw inspiration from such perceptions. Indigenous understandings could also help change the globally negative perception of sharks, and support shark conservation efforts in Oceania and worldwide.
... Shark bites are extremely rare events with 66 confirmed cases worldwide in 2018 (1) that receive disproportionate and sensationalized media attention leading to a distorted public perception of risk despite fatalities occurring in < 10% of these incidents (2). The slight increase in total yearly bites since 2000 is likely explained by the increasing number of people participating in ocean recreation (3) and the development of new watersports that increase the probability of shark-human interactions in areas previously unused by humans (4). For example, reef passages connecting lagoons and open ocean in tropical waters are both natural hotspots for marine predators such as sharks (5) and increasingly popular locations for surfing. ...
Identifying the species and size of sharks responsible for biting humans is essential for developing strategies to prevent these incidents. Here, we use bite wound characteristics and genetic analysis of a tooth fragment extracted from the wounds to identify a sicklefin lemon shark Negaprion acutidens as the perpetrator of nonfatal bites on the legs of an adult male surfer at Makemo atoll (French Polynesia) in January 2018. The bite was superficial, and N. acutidens are fish predators not known to feed on large prey; hence, foraging is an unlikely explanation for this incident rather linked to territoriality. Lemon sharks are occasionally aggressive toward humans and are site attached with relatively small home ranges; hence, avoiding surfing in the area of a previous bite incident is recommended to decrease the risk of future injuries.
... The sharks most commonly documented in severe attacks on live humans and interactions with human remains are the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), and bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) (2,6,9,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Other smaller species, such as the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna), likely are the unidentified attackers in the majority of less-severe attacks on live humans (18). ...
This is an accepted manuscript of an article slated to appear in the Journal of Forensic Sciences in 2017. For the definitive work, please see version of record (currently in Early View at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1556-4029).
This research examines a series of six Florida forensic anthropology cases that exhibit taphonomic evidence of marine deposition and shark-feeding activities. In each case, we analyzed patterns of trauma/damage on the skeletal remains (e.g., sharp-force bone gouges and punctures) and possible mechanisms by which they were inflicted during shark predation/scavenging. In some cases, shark teeth were embedded in the remains; in the absence of this evidence, we measured interdental distance from defects in the bone to estimate shark body length, as well as to draw inferences about the potential species responsible. We discuss similarities and differences among the cases and make comparisons to literature documenting diagnostic shark-inflicted damage to human remains from nearby regions. We find that the majority of cases potentially involve bull or tiger sharks scavenging the remains of previously deceased, adult male individuals. This scavenging results in a distinctive taphonomic signature including incised gouges in cortical bone.
... It states that a surfer resembles a pinniped when seen from below and therefore might accidentally get bitten. Although questioned in the past [9,10], this theory has never been properly tested and, until proven correct, should merely be seen as an assumption and not be used in a factual manner [11][12][13]. ...
The theory of mistaken identity states that sharks, especially white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias , mistake surfers for pinnipeds when looking at them from below and thus bite them erroneously. Photographs of surfer wounds and board damage were interpreted with special emphasis on shark size, wound severity, and extent of damage to a board. These were compared with the concurrent literature on attack strategies of white sharks on pinnipeds and their outcomes. The results show that the majority of damage to surfers and their boards is at best superficial-to-moderate in nature and does not reflect the level of damage needed to immobilize or stun a pinniped. It is further shown that the size distribution of sharks biting surfers differs from that in pinnipeds. The results presented show that the theory of mistaken identity, where white sharks erroneously mistake surfers for pinnipeds, does not hold true and should be rejected.
... Additionally, new sports, such as kite surfing, have emerged, which have resulted in water users more frequently utilising additional coastal areas (e.g. inter-reefal areas) for leisure activities (Clua et al., 2014). This paper has generally supported the increase in human population, and by extension, the increase in water users as being a factor that contributes substantially to the trend of unprovoked shark bite. ...
... Sharks are marine predators that constitute a potential threat to humans and their specific behaviours often play a critical role in triggering fatal attacks (Clua & Séret 2010;Clua & Reid 2013;Clua et al. 2014). Several authors have recently outlined the economic importance of shark-based ecotourism which far outweighs the single-use income obtained from fishing (Clua et al. 2011;Gallagher & Hammerschlag 2011;Vianna et al. 2012). ...
This species is a common inhabitant on the Australian continental shelf south of 30°S from Byron Bay (New South Wales) to the Houtman Abrolhos (Western Australia), including Tasmania, but records from York Sound (northern Western Australia) and Moreton Bay (Queensland) are questionable (Huveneers and Simpfendorfer 2015). In New Zealand, one specimen of this species is reported from waters near Wellington (Cox and Francis 1997; Compagno 2001; Last and Stevens 2009). The specimen from New Zealand is a female caught in 1954 (Cox and Francis 1997) and a voucher specimen held at the NMNZ (Paulin et al. 1989).
This Annual Report falls under the requirements of the Joint Management Agreement that governs how the New South Wales shark netting (bather protection program is managed.
Annual Report of the New South Wales shark meshing (bather protection) program. The report covers all catches recorded in the NSW shark nets, the strategic research and monitoring program, the oberver program, the compliance plan, and performance indicators for the progam.
Annual Report of the New South Wales shark meshing (bather protection) program. The report covers all catches recorded in the NSW shark nets, the strategic research and monitoring program, the oberver program, the compliance plan, and performance indicators for the progam.
The Mistaken Identity Hypothesis (MIH) interprets shark bites on surfers, swimmers and snorkel-ers as 'mistakes' stemming primarily from similarities in the visual appearance of ocean users and the sharks typical prey. MIH is now widely accepted as fact by the general public and some sections of the scientific community despite remaining unproven. This hypothesis assumes that 'mistaken' shark bites on humans result primarily from confusing visual cues and ignores the important role of other senses (e.g. hearing) in discriminating potential prey. A far simpler 'natural exploration' hypothesis can reasonably explain not only shark bites that have been characterized as 'mistaken identity' events but also those that cannot be reasonably explained by MIH (e.g. shark bites that occur in very clear water). Simply stated, sharks don't make 'mistakes' but instead continually explore their environments and routinely investigate novel objects as potential prey by biting them.
2019-2020 Annual Performance Report for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program
2015-2016 Annual Performance Report for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program
2016-2017 Annual Performance Report for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program
2018-2019 Annual Performance Report for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program
2017-2018 Annual Performance Report for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program
The incidents of shark attacks in the marine waters of Iraq and the estuary of Shatt al-Arab River have been reported. However, several cases were not archived, and, therefore, the actual statistic of such cases is not known. What is newly reported in the present chapter is the case of retrieving human remains from the stomach of a shark. This is the first incidence of its kind to be reported from the marine waters of Iraq. The description of the human bones found in the stomach of the shark sheds light on the damage that caused by the teeth of the shark to the bones of the victim, which is related to the feeding habit of the shark. Since there were no fractured, it seems that the victim’s parts are swallowed and then digested due to the disability of the sharks to chew their food.
This study evaluated sleep duration, travelling habits and jet lag effects in kite surfers according to their competition level. Ninety-four male kite surfers (34.3 ± 8.8 years) were evaluated through an online questionnaire in order to collect information on training volume, clinical history, anthropometric profile, sleep habits, fluid and fruit intake and jet lag effects on athletic performance. Mean sleep duration was 07 h 19 min ± 01 h 12 min on weekdays with 82.3% sleeping less than 8 h/night. Sleep duration was less on weekdays (p = 0.002) and weekends (p = 0.011) in kite surfers‘ squad members (SM) compared to no squad members (NoSM). Greater jet lag symptoms were reported following west-to-east flights. Kite surfers with SM arrived earlier at the competition destination (p = 0.019), were more likely to implement strategies to minimize travel effects (p = 0.003), but reported more symptoms of jet lag than did NoSM (p = 0.041). Travel effects were positively correlated with the distance travelled and negatively correlated with sleep duration on weekdays and water intake during travel to an international kite surfing competition. Jet lag negatively influenced kite surfers’ athletic performance with greater symptoms following west-to-east travel in both SM and NoSM.
The loss of a child is a traumatic life event. This research explores bereavement, mourning processes, the consequences of mourning, coping, and managing the bereavement. The research is constructed of two parts. The first part deals with Jacob, who "lost" his beloved son forever, while the second examines the traumatic experience of King David and Bath-sheba with the death of their newborn son.
Although infrequent, shark attacks attract a high level of public and media interest, and often have serious consequences for those attacked. Data from the Australian Shark Attack File were examined to determine trends in unprovoked shark attacks since 1900, particularly over the past two decades. The way people use the ocean has changed over time. The rise in Australian shark attacks, from an average of 6.5 incidents per year in 1990–2000, to 15 incidents per year over the past decade, coincides with an increasing human population, more people visiting beaches, a rise in the popularity of water-based fitness and recreational activities and people accessing previously isolated coastal areas. There is no evidence of increasing shark numbers that would influence the rise of attacks in Australian waters. The risk of a fatality from shark attack in Australia remains low, with an average of 1.1 fatalities year–1 over the past 20 years. The increase in shark attacks over the past two decades is consistent with international statistics of shark attacks increasing annually because of the greater numbers of people in the water.
There are no simple government solutions when sharks bite people. These rare and sometimes fatal incidents are fraught with uncertainties and command a disproportionate amount of psychological space in the minds of the public, as well as a large degree of policy space and funding from many governments. Responses to mitigate shark bite incidents involve public policies that contend with the needs of public safety as well as the responsibility to protect endangered predators. Little study to date has been done examining the politics of shark attacks, yet these events are among the most geographically dispersed human–wildlife conflicts in the world. I examine the underlying concerns that drive this policy process by asking how problem definition framing by policy entrepreneurs affects government responses following shark bite incidents. Through a case study of shark bite incidents in Sydney, Australia in 1929, 1934, and 2009, I identify three competing problem definitions: behavioral, psychological, and conservation. The psychological definition, building confidence in the minds of the public, is shown to be the most successful. Building on previous research, I argue that policy entrepreneurship is a central feature in the strength of problem definitions. I conclude by suggesting lessons for the balanced coastal management of human–marine life conflicts including the selection of trusted spokespeople, prioritizing measures to relieve short-term public anxiety, reframing beach ecosystems as “the wild,” and connecting public safety education to personal behavior.
The New South Wales (NSW) government has operated a program of netting beaches for the protection of swimmers and surfers against shark attack since 1937 in Sydney, and since 1949 in Newcastle and Wollongong. The scope and directives of the Shark Meshing Program have remained constant since its inception, with operational modifications in net specifications in 1972, changes in spatial deployment in 1972, 1987 and 1992, and the elimination of winter netting since 1989. This markedly increased meshing effort in 1972, and again in 1987. In the present study, we examine the trends in catch and effort for the period from 1950–1951 to 2009–2010 over this 200-km section of the NSW coast. Significant temporal trends in species, size and sex composition are described herein. Catches were consistently dominated by three shark taxa, hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.), whaler sharks (Carcharhinus spp.) and Australian angel sharks (Squatina australis), although their relative contributions to catches varied over time. Catch per unit effort has significantly declined for five of the most abundant shark taxa over the study period, increasing only for a single taxon, the sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus). Catches of larger, potentially dangerous white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) and tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) saw fewer large animals being caught over time. This pattern was not observed across other taxa. Four different monthly trends were observed in landings of the most abundant eight taxa, reflecting differences in the biology of the catch species. The current study also provides useful information on catches and sizes of grey nurse (Carcharias taurus) and white sharks before and after their protection in NSW waters in 1984 and 1998, respectively.
The biology of 835 specimens of Galeocerdo cuvier caught between 1964 and 1986 off Townsville, Australia, was examined. The sharks were caught in a protective meshing programme using both large mesh gill-nets and set lines. The size at birth was estimated to be 80-90 cm total length, and females matured at approximately 287 cm total length. Litter sizes ranged from 6 to 56. Breeding and pupping both appear to occur in summer, with females not breeding every year. Mature females possibly migrate inshore during late spring and summer to give birth. The sex ratio of juveniles and adults favoured females, with few adult males being caught. Ontogenic changes in the diet were observed, with juveniles feeding predominantly on teleosts, sea snakes and birds and adults mostly consuming teleosts, sea snakes, turtles and crabs. There was no apparent decrease in the population size of G. cuvier in the Townsville area as a result of the long-term catching of sharks by the protective meshing programme.
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is the largest shark in the family Carcharhinidae and the only carcharhinid with aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous) reproduction.
Despite its size and prevalence, many details of tiger shark reproductive biology are unknown. Size at maturity and litter
size have been reported by several authors, but a lack of large numbers of pregnant females has made it difficult to determine
gestation period, seasonality, and timing of the female reproductive cycle. Here we analyze data from shark control program
fishing and incidental catches in Hawaii (n=318) to construct the most complete picture of tiger shark reproduction to date. Males reached maturity at approximately
292cm total length (TL) based on clasper calcification, whereas females matured between 330 and 345cm TL based on oviducal
gland and uterus widths. Litter sizes ranged from 3 to 57 with a mean of 32.6 embryos per litter. Data from 23 litters from
various months of the year indicate that tiger sharks are usually 80–90cm TL at birth, and that the gestation period is 15–16
months. Mating scars were observed in January–February and sperm is presumably stored for 4–5months until ovulation takes
place in May–July. Gestation begins in June–July and pups are born in September–October of the following year. Our data suggest
that female tiger sharks in Hawaii give birth only once every three years. This could have major implications for conservation
and management of this species, as it suggests that tiger shark fecundity is 33% lower than previously thought. This could
greatly reduce the ability of this species to rebound from fishing pressure.
Stomach content data from 281 tiger sharks caught during shark control programs in Hawaii between 1967 and 1969, and during 1976 were analyzed to examine feeding habits and ontogenetic shifts in diet. As sharks increased in size, prey diversity and frequency of occurrence of large prey items increased. The percent occurrence of teleosts and cephalopods in stomachs decreased as sharks increased in length, while occurrence of elasmobranchs, turtles, land mammals, crustaceans, and undigestible items increased. Comparisons between the diets of tiger sharks from Hawaii and other locations indicate that ontogenetic shifts are universal in this species and that tiger sharks may be opportunistic feeders that prey heavily on abundant, easy to capture prey. Small tiger sharks may be spatially segregated from medium and large sharks and appear to be primarily nocturnal, bottom feeders. Large tiger sharks feed near the bottom at night, but also feed at the surface during the day. Prey, similar in size to humans, begin to occur in the diet of tiger sharks approximately 230 cm TL, and therefore sharks of this size and larger may pose the greatest threat to humans. Ontogenetic shifts in diet may be attributed to increased size of sharks, expanded range and exploitation of habitats of larger sharks, and/or improved hunting skill of larger sharks.
Bite damage patterns have long been used to estimate shark species and body size, with somewhat limited success. The lack
of fit between damage patterns and shark size is partially due to variation in tooth size and shape within an individual.
The ability to accurately predict body size from bite patterns is important for better understanding the ecological and behavioral
underpinnings of shark bites/attacks on marine organisms, humans, and submarine equipment. To this end, we measured interdental
distance (IDD) between the most labial teeth in the first six tooth files on both the upper and lower jaws, as well as the
circumference of the portion of each jaw that bears teeth, for prepared jaw sets from fourteen shark species and regressed
these data against total length. IDD is allometric as well as an accurate predictor of total length in all species examined,
except Carcharhinus acronotus. Tooth-bearing circumference is also allometric and predictive of total length in all species. Though considerable overlap
exists in IDD and circumference ranges among species for the total length ranges examined, Carcharodon carcharias and Isurus sp. can be differentiated from Carcharhinus limbatus, Carcharhinus brevipinna, and C. acronotus based on these values alone. When combined with knowledge of species-specific feeding behavior, geographic distribution,
and habitat preferences, these simple measures from bite damage patterns allow quick, accurate assessment of shark size and
potential species.
Humans share a fascination and fear of sharks. We predict that most shark attacks are nonfatal but require skilled, timely medical intervention. The development of a shark bite severity scoring scale will assist communication and understanding of such an injury. We retrospectively reviewed records of the prospectively maintained International Shark Attack File (ISAF) at the University of Florida. The ISAF contains 4409 investigations, including 2979 documented attacks, 96 of which have complete medical records. We developed a Shark-Induced Trauma (SIT) Scale and calculated the level of injury for each attack. Medical records were reviewed for the 96 documented shark attack victims since 1921. Calculated levels of injury in the SIT Scale reveal 40 Level 1 injuries (41.7%), 16 Level 2 injuries (16.7%), 18 Level 3 injuries (18.8%), 14 Level 4 injuries (14.6%), and eight Level 5 injuries (8.3%). The overall mortality of shark attacks was 8.3 per cent. However, SIT Scale Level 1 injuries comprised the greatest percentage of cases at 41.7 per cent. Injury to major vascular structures increases mortality and necessitates immediate medical attention and definitive care by a surgeon. Shark bites deserve recognition with prompt resuscitation, washout, débridement, and follow up for prevention of infection and closure of more complex wounds.
Shark attacks have primarily been analyzed from wound patterns, with little knowledge of a shark's approach, behaviour and intention leading to such wounds. For the first time, during a shark-human interaction project in South Africa, a white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, was filmed biting a vertically positioned person at the water surface, and exhibiting distinct approach patterns leading to the bite. This bite was compared to ten white shark attacks that occurred (i) in the same geographical area of South Africa, and (ii) where the same body parts were bitten. Close similarity of some of these wound patterns to the bite imprint of the videotaped case indicate that the observed behaviour of the white shark may represent a common pattern of approaching and biting humans.
Carcharodon carcharias was studied at Dangerous Reef, South Australia. A single bit action is composed of a uniform sequence of jaw and head movements. Various approach behaviors to baits were documented. Small sharks (<3 m) feed primarily on fish prey, while larger sharks feed on marine mammals, especially pinnipeds. Telemetric studies of white shark thermal biology show that they are warm-bodied, c4-5oC above ambient water temperature. -from Sport Fishery Abstracts
Tiger Sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, are large top-level predators usually solitary as adults. Observation of their scavenging activity on the carcass of a dead whale offered a rare opportunity for better understanding the pattern of intra-specific behaviour within the aggregations of these large predators. In January 2002, the stranding, subsequent death and consumption of a 17.4m total length (TL) blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, was observed and filmed in Prony Bay, southern New Caledonia. After three weeks of confinement in the bay, the cetacean was killed by adult bullsharks Carcharhinus leucas. The first adult Tiger Shark was subsequently observed around the carcass after 36h. The fat slicks from the carcass attracted further Tiger Sharks which arrived after an additional 24h. The use of photo-identification on video footage collected during four observation sessions over an eight-day period identified 46 individual Tiger Sharks (primarily adult females between 3.3 and 4m TL) participating in the feeding aggregation. Only four animals were identified in two seperate observation sessions (over two consecutive days), suggesting a short-term residency pattern of several hours (<36h) around the carcass. As the arrival time of Tiger Sharks to the carcass differed, most arrivals of a new participant were followed by a frenzied period of intense intra-specific interaction. Different biting and agonistic behaviours were demonstrated by the Tiger Sharks on the carcass, including three new behaviours previously undescribed for this species. Size and level of aggressiveness appeared to be the determining factors of dominance amongst Tiger Sharks. These observations and analysis demonstrate that systematic study of feeding aggregations supported by photo-identification could contribute to knowledge of large shark ecology when coupled with capture-recapture, genetic fingerprinting and tagging techniques.
Stomach contents from tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, caught on lines off the central coast of Western Australia were analysed to investigate variations in the diet due to sex, size and geographic location. Stomachs from 84 specimens contained food, while 26 had empty stomachs and 66 had regurgitated. Twelve prey groups were identified, the most common being turtles, sea snakes, teleost fishes, dugongs and sea birds. Dietary overlap was high between males and females. An ontogenetic shift was observed in the diet. Smaller prey (e.g. cephalopods, teleosts and sea snakes) were more common in small individuals, while the occurrence of larger prey (e.g. turtles, dugongs and elasmobranchs) increased with increasing shark size. Differences in the diet were observed between four regions along the central Western Australian coast. The ability to catch and consume large prey, prey availability, prey density, and prey profitability were identified as factors influencing the diet. The high level of occurrence of dugongs and turtles in the diet of G. cuvier, relative to their abundance, suggests that shark predation may play an important role in regulating populations of these species.
Conservation of threatened large sharks and management of shark-human interactions requires an understanding of shark occurrence and movement patterns. Here, we present the first catch, movement and behaviour data of adult bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in New Caledonia. Amongst six adult C. leucas tagged with passive acoustic tags, four females were caught in coastal waters while males were only found at an isolated oceanic barrier coral reef over 100 km from the nearest river mouth. Two females were monitored in the southern New Caledonia lagoon for 707 and 208 days respectively and displayed classical transient behaviour and sporadic short-term residency around a coastal reef bay, with movements in and out a river detected prior to spring. Adult C. leucas in New Caledonia may develop a sex-based spatial segregation with an atypical presence of adult males in oceanic environments, probably influenced by the unique estuarine-marine continuum of the New Caledonian great lagoon.
We present the case of a non provoked fatal shark attack on a 19-year old male surfer in New Caledonia. Several severe bites removed the right arm and all flesh from the right thigh, provoking a quick hypovolemic shock that was fatal. The information provided by a witness and the analysis of a partial bite on the right calf allowed us to identify a 2.7 m TL (est. length) white shark as responsible for this attack. The features of the attack are consistent with a young predator motivated by hunger and the development of its predatory skills.
Agonistic displays in 23 species of sharks of six families are described and illustrated. These displays are reviewed in terms of ethological concepts and shark hydrodynamic models. Shark agonistic displays feature many common elements rendering them readily distinguishable from normal swimming and pseudodisplays caused by sharksucker irritation. Shark agonistic displays are most readily elicited by rapid, direct diver approach when food is absent and potential escape routes restricted. Such displays appear to be motivated by defence of self or the immediately surrounding space rather than defence of territory or resources. Costs and benefits of display versus attack in shark–shark and shark–diver contests are evaluated using payoff matrices and optimal strategies are identified. Shark–human interactions are modelled in terms of a system of nested critical approach distances. For divers faced with a displaying shark, responses which may decrease the likelihood of defensive attack are suggested. Recommendations for future work on shark agonistic behaviour are offered.
The case of a fatal, unprovoked shark attack is reported and analyzed. The incident took place on the 30th of September 2007, in the lagoon of Luengoni Bay, Lifou Island (Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia). A young French woman who was snorkeling was severely bitten on the right thigh and died of hemorrhage. An analysis based in particular on the size and color of the shark, the characteristics of the wounds, and the behavior of the shark before and after the bite suggests that the aggressor was a great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias.
Shark attacks are rare but are associated with a high morbidity and significant mortality. We report the case of a patient's survival from a shark attack and their subsequent emergency medical and surgical management. Using data from the International Shark Attack File, we review the worldwide distribution and incidence of shark attack. A review of the world literature examines the features which make shark attacks unique pathological processes. We offer suggestions for strategies of management of shark attack, and techniques for avoiding adverse outcomes in human encounters with these endangered creatures.
Bite wounds on humans have rarely been comparatively analyzed, and the behavior leading to such bites is virtually unknown. Nevertheless, the behavior of a shark is reflected in the bite structure and should be an essential part of shark-accident analysis. This paper compares 3 nonfatal accidents on humans, caused by bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, that occurred within a 12-month period in the same area of the Bahamas. Examination focused on wound analysis and accident reconstruction to determine the most likely bite motivation of the sharks. Two sharks targeted the left calf areas of the victims; another one bit the back area of a person. Although both calf bites had a very similar appearance, examination concluded that one of them showed the same triggering behavior as for the shark who inflicted the very different-looking back bite. Those 2 bites were competitive, whereas the other calf bite was initially of exploratory nature, turning into a stress-related bite.
Decadal trends in shark catches and effort from the New SouthWales
- D Reid
- R Robbins
- V Peddemors
Reid D, Robbins R, Peddemors V. Decadal trends in shark catches and effort
from the New SouthWales, 2011 Wales, Australia, Shark Meshing Program
1950e2010. Mar Freshw Res 2011;62:676e93.
Differential use of habitats by adult bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in the New Caledonian great lagon
- Werry
Werry J, Clua E. Differential use of habitats by adult bull sharks, Carcharhinus
leucas, in the New Caledonian great lagon. Aquat Living Resour 2013;26:281e8.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/alr/2013063.