Phoenix Sunrider
Let me tell you about my all-time favourite creatures of the sea: sharks. Media portrays sharks as terrifying creatures, vicious beasts that should be feared and killed on sight. But these sea puppies aren’t as bad as people think, and there are far more dangerous things to fear in the water than the sharks themselves. But don’t take my words the wrong way; I’m not telling you to go seeking out a shark to test my legitimacy. We just need more people to be aware that sharks are gentle creatures who don’t deserve the hate and abuse they get.
I went to a little place near the Gold Coast a year ago where I got to stand in a shallow pool with some small sharks, wobbegongs, and manta rays. There were a lot of children there, and most of them were terrified. There was one thing that the instructor told us to remember:
‘A shark will only bite you if it sees you as food.’
Have you ever considered that? Have you ever considered the fact that a shark would see you floundering around like an idiot and think, ‘Ooh, splashing, that must be prey, that must be food’?
On a side note—manta rays look like they’d be slimy to touch,
but they’re not. They’re really quite soft.
TikTok divers will tell you to avoid sharks if you can, but a simple way to protect yourself is to look strong and stand your ground—just as you would against an aggressive dog. Sharks are naturally curious creatures and will come close to see what you are, but if you stand your ground and act like another predator (which you are) then the sharp-toothed fish won’t provoke you.
Another memory from that place was our experience with the wobbegongs. They’re called carpet sharks because they stay close to the ocean floor. They are also incredibly flexible and are one of few sharks that can actually bite their own tails—just don’t tell the dogs, they’d get jealous. Our instructor told us this, and he also told us that most wobbegong bites are a result of reckless fishermen posing with their catches to get ‘fun’ photos.
‘They’re fishermen, of course they’re photographing their catches.’ Okay—and wobbegongs are creatures who mind their own business, get snagged from their homes and then held by their tails in an environment where they struggle to breathe.
You’d bite the hand that holds you too, if you were in their fins.
A dog gets praised and cheered when chasing his tail, but a wobbegong does the same and he’s made into leather.
Another side note—wobbegongs have tiny, sharp teeth and a habit of holding onto what they bite and not letting go. Oh, that reminds me—my old Labrador went exploring in our backyard once, and we heard him scream. We raced out and there was a blue-tongued skink attached to his lip. Blue-tongues are a protected species in Australia, so despite the fact it had harmed our beloved pet and refused to let go, we let the creature live. But when a shark bites, people go for the kill without a second guess.
I’ve recently had someone on a YouTube Shorts comment tell me that the ocean is ‘human territory’, and that it was the shark’s fault a human had been harmed. Surely we should know by now that sharks were on this planet long before us humans were.
Life on our Planet, voiced by Morgan Freeman, shows the evolution of oceanic creatures, including the ‘creation’ of sharks. The first shark, the magnificent Dunkleosteus, was the first-ever creature to have vertebrae, a spine, and a jaw. The perfect creature. And that beast was the precursor to a gene pool with thousands of breeds, characteristics, and mannerisms! The mako shark, as silly as he looks, has the slim body and incredible power of a tuna, but will only attack when hooked or provoked. I could be wrong, but I believe that’s called self-defence.
Did you know lemon sharks are one of the friendliest types of shark? There have never been any human lives taken by a lemon shark, and these beautiful creatures can even remember and form close relationships with divers. Another ‘safer’ type of shark is the basking shark—although, even as a shark enthusiast, I can’t say they’re my favourite. To date, there has only been one incident in which a basking shark has killed a human. But they’re filter feeders, and mostly swim around with their jaws wide open. It’s… kind of terrifying to look at.
But fun fact! Because of the way their mouths and throats are formed, it’s physically impossible for a basking shark to swallow a human.
‘We get it, you like all sharks, you think they’re not dangerous, whatever.’
That’s not true. While I admire sharks, I accept that they can be dangerous. Bull sharks, tiger sharks, and the famous great white are the three most deadly shark breeds. USA Today, just last year, recorded that bull sharks held the second most human attacks, with 175 attacks and an 18% kill rate in a single year.
But when was the last time you were attacked by one of those terrifying, buck-wild, large horned bulls? I mean, you both live on land; you’re a lot more likely to see a bull than you are a bull shark. Ah, but you live in Australia, you don’t want to hear about USA websites, do you? Alright then…
The Sydney Morning Herald tells us that in 2023, there were only four shark attacks around Australia. However, in that same year, 281 people were killed by drowning. It is so much more likely, especially in Australia, to lose your life because you’re pulled from the beach by the surf and the tide, than you are to be eaten alive by a shark. For all you math enjoyers, it’s approximately a 1:70 ratio of sharks to drowning.
Sharks 1, surf 70.
So please, before you allow your mind to be drawn to negativity around sharks, try to understand that they’re just normal creatures trying to live their lives like everyone else, just like you. Don’t seek them out; they’re not your pets. But if you see one while you’re swimming, don’t be afraid, he just wants to know if you’re food or not.
Phoenix Sunrider (they/she) is a fourth- and final-year Creative Writing major in the process of writing her debut fantasy novel, Blades of Fire. They mostly write, but also have interests in theatre, music, and visual arts, and wish to incorporate these forms into their storytelling.
Sophie Gollant (she/her) is marked by her earnest oil paintings and photographs of earthly, isolated scenes. Sophie’s practice is steeped in metaphors and motifs that earnestly draw on her experiences of womanhood, chronic illness, and solitude.
Instagram: @soggolla