{"id":1341,"date":"2021-01-23T09:23:24","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T09:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=1341"},"modified":"2023-05-20T07:06:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-20T06:06:49","slug":"shark-attack-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/shark-attack-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Shark Attack Statistics: Why, When, and Where They Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These fascinating predators are usually presented as creatures coming from the depths of the ocean to hunt and kill humans. But <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shark attack statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that the reality is different.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They reveal that shark bites aren\u2019t as common and deadly as shown in the press. Most attacks are just sharks exploring their territory or mistaking a human for one of the species they like to eat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But let\u2019s see some of the most exciting numbers on shark attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='top-shark-attack-statistics-editor%e2%80%99s-pick'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shark Attack Statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Editor\u2019s Pick<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The odds of getting bitten by a shark are 1 in 3,748,067.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There were 73 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unprovoked shark bites<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on humans in 2021 alone.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US tops the list of the highest number of shark attacks recorded.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over half of the US shark attacks happen in Florida.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surprisingly, death by selfie is more common than being eaten by a shark.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great white sharks are the most frequently implicated species in shark attacks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are over 100 million shark deaths per year around the world.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shark finning and overfishing are pushing sharks to the brink of extinction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worldwide, Australia is in second place regarding the number of shark attacks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Curious to learn more about where, why, and how often sharks attack? Read through these eye-opening facts and figures to discover the truth about why these marine animals turn on humans.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='why-do-sharks-attack-people'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Do Sharks Attack People<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides the venomous snake bite, shark attacks account for one of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/phobia-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>the most common phobias<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Even though shark attacks happen, they\u2019re not as common as you think.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, they still happen, so let\u2019s see <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how many shark attacks per year<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> there are, why they happen, and when.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='1-the-odds-of-a-shark-attack-are-1-in-3748067'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">odds of a shark attack<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are 1 in 3,748,067.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/odds\/compare-risk\/death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite popular belief, shark attacks are pretty rare. There is a higher chance of dying from fireworks than getting eaten by a shark\u2014one in 340,733.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People are also 47 times more likely to die from a lightning strike than a shark bite, a risk surfers take every time they hit the waves during storms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='2-there-have-been-73-unprovoked-shark-attacks-and-bites-on-humans-in-2021'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. There have been 73 unprovoked shark attacks and bites on humans in 2021.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unprovoked shark bites<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are defined as shark attacks where humans didn\u2019t create any incitement or provocations. There were a total of 137 aggressive human-shark interactions last year, with 39 being labeled as human-initiated.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='3-people-are-more-likely-to-drown-than-getting-bitten-by-a-shark'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. People are more likely to drown than getting bitten by a shark.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/odds\/compare-risk\/death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/features\/shark-attack-vs-other-causes-of-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PETA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The odds of death by drowning are one in 1,134\u2014considerably higher than death by shark bites. Other causes of death more common than shark attacks include traffic accidents, a champagne cork, and a cold.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='4-surprisingly-death-by-selfie-is-more-common-than-being-eaten-by-a-shark'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Surprisingly, death by selfie is more common than being eaten by a shark.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2020\/02\/14\/more-people-die-taking-selfies-than-in-shark-attacks-survey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NY Post<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the period between 2011 and 2017, 259 people around the world died in 137 selfie-taking-related accidents. For comparison, only 50 people were killed by sharks in the same period, according to the data on the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">average number of shark deaths per year<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='5-51-of-shark-attacks-involve-board-sports-and-surfing'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. 51% of shark attacks involve board sports and surfing.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boardsports usually take place in surf zones where sharks are known to swim. Also, board sports cause a lot of splashing, i.e., the kind of water disturbances that might attract sharks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swimmers were involved in 39% of shark attacks, snorkelers and free divers account for 4% of all attacks, while body surfers make up 6% of incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='6-shark-attacks-are-most-likely-to-occur-in-september'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Shark attacks are most likely to occur in September.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/maps\/na\/usa\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2012-11-26\/fisheries-unveil-new-guidelines-for-shooting-sharks\/4393204\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ABC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When do sharks attack<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Analysis of the number of attacks in Florida from 1926 to 2018 shows people are most likely to encounter a shark in September. Data shows there were 103 attacks in September\u2014significantly more than in other months of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it\u2019s commonly believed that sharks hunt during dusk and dawn, research indicates that the most dangerous time to be in the water is from 2\u20133 pm.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='7-several-factors-contribute-to-shark-attacks-on-people'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Several factors contribute to shark attacks on people.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20190808-why-do-sharks-attack-humans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of people in the water is directly connected to the number of bites. This could explain why most incidents occur in popular destinations for water activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take the French Reunion Island as an example. It has witnessed a significant rise in tourism and an increase in shark attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another reason, experts say, is the growing number of seals, one of sharks\u2019 favorite prey. The seal population has increased in Australia and off Cape Cod in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='8-climate-change-also-contributes-to-shark-attacks-on-humans'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Climate change also contributes to shark attacks on humans.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20190808-why-do-sharks-attack-humans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water pollution, habitat disruption, and a shift in prey distribution due to global warming cause sharks to gather in certain hotspots around the world and thus increase the chances of human-shark interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='9-sometimes-sharks-are-just-curious'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Sometimes, sharks are just curious.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sharks-attack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britannica<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shark\u2019s mouth serves as a sensory organ. It allows them to examine an unfamiliar object by biting it. So sharks might bite people to check if they have the same fat content as some of their favorite prey, which we don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conclusion from analyzing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shark attack statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is that humans are too bony and don\u2019t have enough meat and fat to satisfy sharks\u2019 appetites.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='10-there-are-three-kinds-of-shark-attacks'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. There are three kinds of shark attacks.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/odds\/how-where-when\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As previously stated, sharks don\u2019t always bite to kill. Here are the three most common interactions toward humans:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201chit-and-run\u201d attacks, which typically take place in surf zones and are the result of poor visibility. In these attacks, sharks usually just bite their prey and\u2014deeming it unsavory\u2014swim away;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cbump and bite,\u201d associated with feeding intentions, in which sharks first bump into the victim and then bite it repeatedly;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201csneak\u201d attacks, where biting, unlike with \u201cbump and bite,\u201d happens suddenly and without any warning.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id='11-boats-and-post-mortem-bites-account-for-the-remaining-attacks'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. Boats and post-mortem bites account for the remaining attacks.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/duncanmadden\/2019\/03\/05\/the-2018-global-shark-attack-summary-is-out\/#48f8f02c7400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (ISAF)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2019, 12 of the remaining 35 shark attacks involved motorized vehicles (up from nine in 2018).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One involved post-mortem bites (down from four in 2018), and one implicated a diver in a public aquarium. Three incidents most likely didn\u2019t involve a shark and were classified as \u201cdoubtful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='us-shark-attack-statistics'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US Shark Attack Statistics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of shark attacks has been varying over the years\u2014but the US coasts stay among the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most shark-infested waters<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Let\u2019s see the latest data.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='12-the-us-tops-the-list-of-the-highest-number-of-unprovoked-shark-attacks-recorded'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. The US tops the list of the highest number of unprovoked shark attacks recorded.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US accounted for 64% of the total worldwide attacks in 2021, with an estimated 47 cases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0This is 42% higher than in 2020\u2014expectedly, due to more severe COVID restrictions in that period and limited movement of people.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='13-60-of-us-soil-attacks-happened-off-the-coast-of-florida'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13. 60% of US soil attacks happened off the coast of Florida.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Known as the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shark bite capital of the world<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Florida is the state with the highest number of bites historically. In 2021, Florida recorded 28 unprovoked attacks, none of which were fatal. The state also accounts for 38% of all unprovoked interactions in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='14-volusia-county-florida-witnessed-over-300-unprovoked-shark-attacks-over-the-years'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14. Volusia County, Florida, witnessed over 300 unprovoked shark attacks over the years.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/blog\/discover-the-10-most-shark-infested-waters-in-the-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A-Z Animals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts explain the numbers with murky water due to rain runoff. A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shark attack <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">isn\u2019t uncommon in<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Cocoa Beach<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Brevard County) either, with over 155 recorded cases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volusia County accounted for 63% of Florida\u2019s total number of unprovoked bites in 2021, with an estimate of 17.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='15-there-were-a-number-of-shark-attacks-in-hawaii-and-california'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15. There were a number of shark attacks in Hawaii and California.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to Florida, most <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shark attacks <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">happened<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in California<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Hawaii.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hawaii <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">had six<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shark attacks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2021, all without any fatalities. Meanwhile, California recorded three attacks, with one person falling victim to the animal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other states on the list are South Carolina with four bites and North Carolina with three attacks last year.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='16-there-was-a-fatal-shark-attack-in-massachusetts-for-the-first-time-since-1936'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16. There was a fatal shark attack in Massachusetts for the first time since 1936.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.com\/news\/local-news\/2018\/09\/17\/deadly-cape-cod-shark-attack-arthur-medici\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The one deadly attack took place in Cape Cod in 2018, when a 26-year-old boogie boarder died after being bitten by a shark, presumably a great white. This was the first fatal shark bite in the state of Massachusetts in over 82 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='where-do-the-most-shark-attacks-occur-worldwide'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where Do the Most Shark Attacks Occur<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Worldwide<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t worry; shark attacks don\u2019t occur everywhere around the world. Here are the most common locations outside the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='17-worldwide-australia-is-in-second-place-regarding-the-number-of-shark-attacks'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17. Worldwide, Australia is in second place regarding the number of shark attacks.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There were 12 unprovoked shark attacks in 2021 in the Land Down Under. Out of those, three were fatal attacks. This is lower than Australia\u2019s average of 16 attacks a year over a five-year period.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Australian shark attack statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicate that most attacks occurred in New South Wales\u2014six, with two being fatal. In Western Australia, one person died out of a total of four shark attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='18-brazil-has-had-107-shark-attacks-and-23-casualties-from-1931%e2%80%932019'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18. Brazil has had 107 shark attacks and 23 casualties from 1931\u20132019.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.surfertoday.com\/surfing\/the-most-shark-infested-waters-in-the-world\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SurferToday<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stats show that other countries where shark attacks are frequent include South Africa and the Mascarene Islands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the same period, South Africa had 255 attacks, 54 of which were fatal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, the Mascarene Islands (Reunion, Mauritius, and Rodrigues) had 46 attacks, 27 of which weren\u2019t fatal.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='19-gansbaai-in-south-africa-is-one-of-the-most-dangerous-shark-beaches'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19. Gansbaai in South Africa is one of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most dangerous shark beaches<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/travel\/galleries\/most-dangerous-beaches-in-the-world\/gansbaai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Telegraph<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getaway.co.za\/adventures\/swimming-with-the-sharks-in-gansbaai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getaway<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as Shark Alley, this area is home to a colony of 60,000 seals. The great white sharks are known to hunt them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data shows there are around five to 10 attacks every year. Most of them happen due to sharks\u2019 curiosity rather than their hunt for humans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, being one of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most dangerous shark beaches<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comes with economic benefits. Tourists have been swarming to South Africa for a chance to go cage diving with great whites, boosting the local economy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='20-two-fatal-attacks-occurred-in-the-bahama-islands-and-reunion-island-in-2019'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20. Two fatal attacks occurred in the Bahama Islands and Reunion Island in 2019.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-48219268\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/26\/us\/bahamas-shark-attack-woman-died\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CNN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the deadly attacks occurred off Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Surfing and water activities are limited there due to the risks of shark attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the 24th incidence and the 11th fatal attack on this island since 2011.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other fatal incident involved a 21-year-old California resident who had been snorkeling on Rose Island in the Bahamas.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='shark-attack-statistics-by-species'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shark Attack Statistics by Species<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers have also discovered that not all shark pieces attack humans. Let\u2019s see what the statistics say about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/different-types-of-sharks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>different types of sharks<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the likelihood of them attacking humans.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='21-only-5-of-over-500-known-species-of-sharks-have-been-involved-in-attacks-on-humans'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21. Only 5% of over 500 known species of sharks have been involved in attacks on humans.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/science\/shark-bites-plummet-in-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Florida Museum of Natural History<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most shark attacks on humans involve three species: the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the bull shark.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All shark species differ in the way they hunt, where they live, and their motivations. Bull sharks, for example, hunt in shallow and murky water because they rely more on smell and electroreception than sight, the data suggest.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='22-the-data-on-the-great-white-shark-attacks-reveals-the-species-is-involved-in-most-human-shark-interactions'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22. The data on the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">great white shark attacks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reveals the species is involved in most human-shark interactions.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thoughtco.com\/top-shark-attack-species-2291452\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ThoughtCo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the most dangerous shark in the world<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Great white sharks are the most intimidating and deadliest. The species is believed to be responsible for 314 unprovoked attacks from 1580\u20132015, 80 of which were fatal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These sharks typically eat seals or whales and usually hunt in open waters. Although, judging by some facts, they are known to come close to the shore, as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='23-great-white-shark%e2%80%99s-bite-force-is-over-4000-lbf-or-18216-n'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great white shark<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019s<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bite force<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is over 4,000 lbf or 18,216 N.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/blog\/what-is-the-great-white-sharks-bite-force\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A-Z Animals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The strength of their bite is relative to the shark\u2019s size. Interestingly, female great whites grow 15\u201316 feet, which is larger than males (11\u201313). The largest identified reach up to 20 feet in length. The species is also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/how-fast-do-sharks-swim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>among the fastest sharks<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with a cruising speed of 25 mph and bursts of 35 mph.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='23-tiger-sharks-are-the-second-most-dangerous-sharks-in-the-world'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23. Tiger sharks are the second most dangerous sharks in the world.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/fish\/t\/tiger-shark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiger sharks have killed 34 people and are responsible for 95 unprovoked nonfatal attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike great whites, who are known to release their prey after they find it uneatable, tiger sharks have a less discerning palate. This means they\u2019re not in the habit of swimming away once they catch their dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='24-bull-shark-attacks-usually-occur-in-shallow-waters'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bull shark attacks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> usually occur in shallow waters.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/2005\/07\/shark-attack-threats-bull-sharks-location\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleanerseas.com\/the-worlds-most-dangerous-bull-shark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaner Seas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">what is the most aggressive shark<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Bull sharks may be the least known species, but they are potentially <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/most-dangerous-sharks-to-humans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>the most dangerous and aggressive<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Because they swim where we swim, the chances of humans interacting with bull sharks are pretty high.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='25-there-have-been-no-fatalities-from-hammerhead-shark-attacks-on-humans'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25. There have been no fatalities from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hammerhead shark attacks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on humans.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/hammerhead-sharks-dangerous-do-they-attack-humans-1676170\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newsweek<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only 16 cases of human interactions with this species of shark have been noted from 1900 until today. The majority of attacks by hammerheads happened in Florida. Elsewhere, one occurred in California, one in Australia, and two off the Pacific Islands.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='26-the-whale-shark-is-the-biggest-one-in-the-world'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">26. The whale shark is the biggest one in the world.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/2005\/06\/shark-facts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oceana.org\/marine-life\/sharks-rays\/shortfin-mako-shark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oceana.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They might be the largest, but they are less dangerous to humans than some of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/smallest-shark-species\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>smaller shark species<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Growing to 60 feet in length, whale sharks only eat plankton.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The shortfin mako\u2014known as the fastest shark in the world\u2014is also not considered dangerous to people. Some fatal attacks have been attributed to this shark, although in most incidents, some other shark species was responsible, most likely a great white.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-many-sharks-are-killed-by-humans-each-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Many Sharks Are Killed by Humans Each Year<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statistics show that people kill much more sharks than sharks kill people. It may sound unbelievable, but the numbers don\u2019t lie.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='26-there-are-over-100-million-shark-deaths-annually-around-the-world'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">26. There are over 100 million shark deaths annually around the world.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insider.com\/shark-attacks-what-are-odds-of-getting-bitten-2018-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insider<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This translates to around <\/span><b>11,000 sharks being killed across the world<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> every hour. On the other hand, there have been 1,400 shark attacks in the US from 1837\u20132017, only a handful of which were fatal.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='27-the-demand-for-shark-fin-soup-causes-most-shark-killings'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">27. The demand for shark fin soup causes most shark killings.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ocean.si.edu\/ocean-life\/sharks-rays\/shark-finning-sharks-turned-prey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smithsonian Ocean<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shark finning is a cruel and vicious method of killing sharks. After the fin is cut off, the rest of the body is thrown back into the ocean, where sharks bleed to death.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we look at the number of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sharks killed by year<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we see that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/endangered-species-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>1.3\u20132.7 million of the sharks killed for fin soup belong to the endangered scalloped hammerhead species<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the smooth hammerhead, currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='28-shark-finning-and-overfishing-are-pushing-sharks-to-the-brink-of-extinction'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28. Shark finning and overfishing are pushing sharks to the brink of extinction.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ocean.si.edu\/ocean-life\/sharks-rays\/sharks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smithsonian Ocean<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks are not created for massive fishing because they have low reproductive rates and mature slowly. Therefore, overfishing can destroy an entire population.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shark population statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that certain shark species in Australia have declined by 75\u201390% due to shark culling. Stats show a growing number of interactions, thus initiating authorities&#8217; deliberate killing of sharks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/overfishing-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>the population of some shark species dropped by 60\u201370% due to overfishing<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='29-sharks-are-vital-to-the-health-of-the-ocean-and-the-planet'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">29. Sharks are vital to the health of the ocean and the planet.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/melissacristinamarquez\/2019\/03\/26\/why-sharks-matter\/#67cf06c6535c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As apex predators, sharks keep certain species from becoming too invasive and thus support diversity in the seas, protect coral reefs, and balance the food chain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks also consume sick and weak animals, maintaining the ocean&#8217;s health, and we all know how important that is.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='frequently-asked-questions'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n<h4 id='what-are-the-odds-of-being-attacked-by-a-shark'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the odds of being attacked by a shark<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The odds of getting attacked or bitten by a shark are 1 in 3,748,067. Dying by falling, tripping, or slipping are way higher at 1 in 127.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='do-most-shark-attacks-happen-in-3-feet-of-water'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do most shark attacks happen in 3 feet of water<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not really.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divers naturally get more attacked in deep waters, unlike swimmers and surfers whose interactions with sharks happen a lot closer to the coast.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most divers\u2019 accidents with sharks happen 31\u201340 feet in the water, while swimmers and surfers get attacked 6\u201310 feet in.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='what-beach-has-the-most-shark-attacks'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What beach has the most shark attacks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ISAF has named New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida, \u201cthe <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shark bite capital of the world<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2019, nine shark attacks occurred there, consistent with the annual average for shark bites in the area. In other words, 43% of all incidents in Florida happened in this county.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='what-are-sharks-attracted-to'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are sharks attracted to<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks are believed to react more to sound and smell rather than sight. Some theories propose sharks are attracted to certain sounds made by a surfer in trouble, a sick fish, and the smell of blood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The presence of blood, however, isn\u2019t enough to provoke a shark attack unless combined with other elements, like splashing in the water or wearing jewelry (which looks like the scales of fish that sharks eat).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some scientific tests have shown that sharks can distinguish colors, giving rise to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2015\/08\/17\/opinions\/mick-fanning-shark-surfboard-color\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>\u201cyum yum yellow\u201d theories<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Although these theories aren\u2019t scientifically proven, avoiding wearing bright colors in the water might be best.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='how-far-can-sharks-smell-blood'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How far can sharks smell blood<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be clear\u2014sharks can\u2019t smell a singular drop of blood from a mile. That\u2019s an often repeated myth. They do have a strong sense of smell, however, smelling blood from hundreds of meters away.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='what-to-do-if-a-shark-is-circling-you'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to do if a shark is circling you<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first and most important thing about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reducing the risk of a shark bite<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is not to panic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to use anything you have as a weapon for striking their sensitive gills and eyes. If you don\u2019t have a weapon, use your hands and feet. Hit as hard as you can and be as hostile as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/bear-attack-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Sharks aren\u2019t bears, so playing dead won\u2019t work<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The best chance of escaping a shark attack is to fight back as well and viciously as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id='should-you-be-afraid-of-sharks'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should you be afraid of sharks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The short answer is no. As with other animals, it\u2019s more likely that they\u2019re more afraid of us than we are of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks have attacked humans, and some attacks are fatal, but so have other animals like mosquitoes, cows, and horses. Also, many interactions between sharks and humans haven\u2019t ended with bites or attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='key-takeaways'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks aren\u2019t the dangerous creatures of movies and scary stories. If anything, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shark attack statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that the number of fatal and nonfatal attacks is declining.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These magnificent fish have survived four mass extinctions of species. Yet, they have trouble surviving humans. More and more sharks are hunted for their fins, caught in nets, and killed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are already on the list of endangered species, and their numbers are dwindling. So rather than people worrying about getting attacked by sharks, it\u2019s sharks that should worry about humans and their harmful activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Sources<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2012-11-26\/fisheries-unveil-new-guidelines-for-shooting-sharks\/4393204\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ABC<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allthatsinteresting.com\/cone-snail\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All That Is Interesting<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amusingplanet.com\/2015\/04\/the-friendly-crocodiles-of-paga.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amusing Planet<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20190808-why-do-sharks-attack-humans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-48219268\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/earth\/story\/20160616-it-is-surprisingly-rare-for-an-alligator-to-kill-a-person\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.com\/news\/local-news\/2018\/09\/17\/deadly-cape-cod-shark-attack-arthur-medici\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston.com<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sharks-attack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britannica<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/worlds-deadliest-animals-2016-9\/?r=AU%2F\/#2-humans-437000-deaths-a-year-14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business Insider<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleanerseas.com\/the-worlds-most-dangerous-bull-shark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaner Seas<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2018\/11\/05\/australia\/australia-fatal-shark-attack-intl\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CNN<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/26\/us\/bahamas-shark-attack-woman-died\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CNN<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Florida Museum<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/science\/shark-bites-plummet-in-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Florida Museum of Natural History<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/duncanmadden\/2019\/03\/05\/the-2018-global-shark-attack-summary-is-out\/#48f8f02c7400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/melissacristinamarquez\/2019\/03\/26\/why-sharks-matter\/#67cf06c6535c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getaway.co.za\/adventures\/swimming-with-the-sharks-in-gansbaai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getaway<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insider.com\/shark-attacks-what-are-odds-of-getting-bitten-2018-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insider<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/odds\/compare-risk\/death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/yearly-worldwide-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/maps\/na\/usa\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/odds\/how-where-when\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu\/shark-attacks\/factors\/species-implicated\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISAF<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.iucncsg.org\/pages\/Crocodilian-Attacks.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iucncsg.org<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/fish\/t\/tiger-shark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/2005\/07\/shark-attack-threats-bull-sharks-location\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/2005\/06\/shark-facts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2020\/02\/14\/more-people-die-taking-selfies-than-in-shark-attacks-survey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NY Post<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oceana.org\/marine-life\/sharks-rays\/shortfin-mako-shark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oceana.org<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/features\/shark-attack-vs-other-causes-of-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PETA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2018\/02\/180228112528.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science Daily<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ocean.si.edu\/ocean-life\/sharks-rays\/shark-finning-sharks-turned-prey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smithsonian Ocean<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ocean.si.edu\/ocean-life\/sharks-rays\/sharks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smithsonian Ocean<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.surfertoday.com\/surfing\/the-most-shark-infested-waters-in-the-world\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SurferToday<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2019\/jan\/31\/shark-attacks-around-world-fell-by-about-one-quarter-in-2018\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Guardian<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/travel\/galleries\/most-dangerous-beaches-in-the-world\/gansbaai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Telegraph<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thoughtco.com\/top-shark-attack-species-2291452\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ThoughtCo<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wftv.com\/news\/florida\/alligator-attacks-how-often-do-they-happen\/746656140\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WFTV<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shark attack statistics for 2022 reveal these creatures aren&#8217;t as frightening as they are made out to be in the media. Continue reading to learn more! [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/shark-attack-statistics\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from Shark Attack Statistics: Why, When, and Where They Attack<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1424,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-stats-and-facts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}