A new juvenile white shark was introduced into the Outer Bay exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on August 28. This is the aquarium’s third white shark, and Monterey Bay is the only aquarium that has ever kept a white shark alive for any length of time at all. As I recall, the first two were there for about nine and six months, respectively, before they needed to be freed back into the Pacific Ocean. So, if you’re in the bay area, get yourself to the aquarium and check out the white shark while it’s there — it won’t last forever!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montereybayaquarium/1270518944/
001 // Arthur Case // 08.29.2007 // 9:29 PM
There are also sharks not in captivity in Monterey Bay. Big white sharks that like to eat surfers.
002 // Jeff Croft // 08.29.2007 // 9:42 PM
There are white sharks in almost every ocean in the sea, although California’s coast is definitely one of the four main “hotspots” for them. And, surfers have proven to be the most likely humans to be attacked by white sharks, probably because:
It’s too bad when people get bitten but sharks (not attacked, and not eaten — both attacks and consumption are incredibly rare to non-existent — bites are much more common), but it is important to remember that the ocean is their home and we enter it at our own risk. Most people don’t think twice about jumping in the ocean for a swim — but the same people usually won’t stick their hands in a snake hole. Why?
003 // Arthur Case // 08.29.2007 // 10:07 PM
It’s true as humans we need to have respect for sharks when entering their world. I’ve been snorkelling with basking sharks and a reef shark, and those were two amazing experiences. As a surfer I would say most surfers have great respect for the ocean and the animals that live in it, and a good healthy fear of any big dark shadows or large fins popping up. There’s not a lot you can do against a hungry Great White though.
My point of showing the link was to highlight the difference between a shark in a tank, and then just down the road there is one right there in the ocean doing what comes naturally and it’s a lot different experience to what you will see in the tank. However if seeing the shark in an aquarium will get people to understand these amazing creatures, I think that’s good for their future survival.