Sharks are some of the most fearsome animals on the planet.
At least, that’s what most would say. In the popular imagination, sharks are often thought of as the perfect, prehistoric killing machines. We may have Steven Spielberg’s Jaws to blame for this perception. When we go to the beach, lurking in the back of our mind is the possibility that we could be snatched up from below by one of these creatures. Still, the chances of actually getting attacked and killed by a shark are one in 3.7 million—far less likely than death by fireworks or lightning.
Perhaps it’s time we changed our perspective on sharks just a little bit.
That’s what happened in one adorable story out of New South Wales in Australia.
Rick Anderson is a scuba diver who has been diving for more than 27 years. He even runs a dive school of his own out of Port Macquarie in New South Wales. About seven years ago during a dive, he met a tiny little Port Jackson Shark who was still a pup—and he decided to make friends with her.
“I approached her carefully so as not to spook her, then began to gently pat her. Once she got used to me, I would cradle her in my hand and talk soothingly to her through my regulator.”
As Anderson kept diving throughout the years, he and the unnamed shark only grew closer.
The shark also grew bigger and bigger of course. Today, the shark is fully grown—but it still recognizes Anderson whenever he does a dive in the area. Anderson says he can recognize her by her markings and that the two even have physical contact:
“She soon got used to me to that point where she will swim up to me when I’m going past and tap me on the legs until I hold my arms out for her to lay on for a cuddle.”
However strange this story may seem, it’s actually a real eye-opener when it comes to our relationship with sharks.
As it turns out, humans kill way more sharks per year—at a figure of around 73 million—than sharks do humans. All the media sensationalism around sharks affects our relationship with the natural world—though stories like this one help restore the balance. “The biggest misconception about sharks is that they are all mindless killers,” Anderson said. “I have always felt comfortable swimming with these animals.”
Congratulations to Anderson and this mystery shark on their unique friendship!
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