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Stats: Shark attacks are on the rise again

2022-01-25T09:45:57.477Z


Because of the corona pandemic, the number of shark attacks has decreased in the past two years. Now the attacks are back to the old level – also because there are more water sports enthusiasts.


Great white shark off the coast of South Africa

Photo: Ryan Pierse/ Getty Images

Shark attacks are rare.

For three years in a row, their number has even decreased, now it has increased again.

That's according to a new report by scientists, the International Shark Attack File.

Accordingly, the researchers recorded 73 unprovoked incidents in 2021, compared to 52 bites in 2020, according to the report published on Monday.

The study is being produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History and the American Elasmobranch Society.

Tyler Bowling, director of the International Shark Attack File, pointed out that the 52 bites recorded in 2020 were the lowest number in more than a decade.

With the number of attacks, the statistics in the past year are again approaching the global five-year average of 72 attacks per year.

The decline in previous years is very likely related to the global corona wave, which is why many beaches were closed.

"The number of shark bites has decreased dramatically in 2020 due to the pandemic," Bowling said in a statement.

“Last year was much more typical, with average bite counts from a range of species and deaths from great white, bull and tiger sharks.”

Over the past year, researchers recorded a total of 11 shark bite deaths, nine of which were believed to be unprovoked.

The experts speak of unprovoked attacks when there is no typical stimulus from humans to the animals.

Provoked attacks are when there has been prior human contact, such as divers attempting to touch a shark.

Or fishermen who want to remove a shark from a net, according to the International Shark Attack File.

Australia led the world with three unprovoked deaths, followed by New Caledonia with two.

The United States, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa have each had one fatal unprovoked shark attack.

More water sports, more attacks

For decades, most unprovoked shark bites have been recorded in Florida, USA.

This trend continued in 2021, the researchers said.

There were 28 unprovoked bites there last year, which is about the average for the past five years.

The only deadly unprovoked shark attack in the US took place in California in 2021.

A man was killed boogie boarding in Morro Bay on Christmas Eve.

Nevertheless, this statistic also proves that shark attacks are rare.

Humans are not on the animal menu.

Experts suspect that the increase in attacks could also be due to a growing number of water sports enthusiasts.

Surfers are particularly affected when sharks bite their arms or legs because they mistake them for seals.

joe/AP

Source: spiegel

All tech articles on 2022-01-25

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