Surfing Waves

I have a growing concern with nature and people. I have seen travel entertainment pop up more and more on TV and internet. This subject is Shark Feeding from cages. Oooo, Ahh ! Just don't seem very exciting for me. I am not sure if any thing has been talked about this or not? So moving on with concern.

I live in the middle USA and was raised in country side. In this environment there are many wild animals. Over many years and in grow up. It was always challenging to tame wild animals. Raccoon's, Skunks, Fox, HootOwls, Badger, Rabbits and Deer. Maybe more that don't cross mind at moment. The process of taming wild animals. It is started by feeding. Getting animal use to being around humans. They become closer and closer. Then one is able to , in time catch what is target.

SO NOW on concerns! Now here we have tourist in cages feeding sharks for entertainment. This is no different process than I have done in my younger days with land animals. Only my taming was for 1 single animal at a time. Sharks are more together hunting in packs. So now the more every one is doing this feeding (taming) of these sharks. Sharks are now not scared of humans. Every human they are seeing. They are associate with a meal. In cage or not. I am sure they could care less. Just feed on what ever they can get. So now the pattern has started for all sharks, old and young.

I wish all a safe enjoyment. Happy Swimming / Surfing !

From the aspect of it's effect on the ecosystem, never feed wild animals....as in never ever ever. It's bad for them in the long run. They loose their normal feeding behaviors and become dependent upon humans for food. It creates larger than normal communities since they are getting food brought to them and this predisposes them to the spread of diseases since the population is concentrated in a small area. They will die off once you quit feeding them, if they don't die from parasites and other diseases spread by making them congregate in a small area for food. Don't do it

Sharks love meat from middle America.....good corn raised stock....

Cage diving and feeding to attract sharks has been going on for years, not as often in middle America though.
It is mainly in the great white territories South Africa, Southern Australian and the red triangle of California waters and yes it probably has some associative links with feeding and humans in cages!

Surfers look remarkably like slow wounded seals and turtles, there has been a marked increase of shark attacks in the northern areas of my home waters , New South Wales .
The attacks have been juvenile great whites ( at this stage of their development are fish eaters) and nasty nasty , territorial bull sharks which bite anything going!
None of which have been exposed to Cage diving.
Look more at water conditions, fish schools, and increased human swimming in those areas.

Lately the northern rivers have had huge schools of Australian salmon and dirty flood waters to nourish them, this has had a huge increase of sharks turning up for a feed, if your limbs are in the mix, a tragic oops is likely.

Major great white attacks of the big type seal eating size are rarer mostly because of colder waters and less human interaction more often in South Australia and south western West Australia. further north the crocodiles and sharks divide the food between themselves and they get the remains of people who have been stung to death by the jellyfish.
Only snakes, spiders and drop bears on land are risky and rarely a disemboweling by an emu or a kangaroo.
The real point is as OMS said leave nature alone to be in its natural state ,where wildlife prefers to stay way from humans.

jaffa1949 wrote:C
Major great white attacks of the big type seal eating size are rarer mostly because of colder waters and less human interaction more often in South Australia and south western West Australia. further north the crocodiles and sharks divide the food between themselves and they get the remains of people who have been stung to death by the jellyfish.
Only snakes, spiders and drop bears on land are risky and rarely a disemboweling by an emu or a kangaroo.
The real point is as OMS said leave nature alone to be in its natural state ,where wildlife prefers to stay way from humans.

Australia is scary! I don't think I would ever surf alone in the water there.

BaNZ wrote:Australia is scary! I don't think I would ever surf alone in the water there.

Come to the Gold Coast and you're absolutely right - you'll never surf alone in the water

oldmansurfer wrote:From the aspect of it's effect on the ecosystem, never feed wild animals....as in never ever ever. It's bad for them in the long run. They loose their normal feeding behaviors and become dependent upon humans for food. It creates larger than normal communities since they are getting food brought to them and this predisposes them to the spread of diseases since the population is concentrated in a small area. They will die off once you quit feeding them, if they don't die from parasites and other diseases spread by making them congregate in a small area for food. Don't do it

Yes, Yes, Yes! One should never tame wild animals. It for sure is not great for the animals and there environment at all. Learned this in my younger years. Don't at all recommend any taming.

Not totally agree with the loosing there feeding behaviors. All of the animals I listed. All that I was around. They was very young animals. Some even babies. It for sure was an experience from a normal pet. All has taken different care to finish raising. All quite the chore. But in the animal growing up. Handling them in a few years, all things change. All I have experienced was they get very mean and bite and scratch. They have great intolerance in being handled. Of coarse being in country side. We could just let all roam as pleased. In short time they seem to be gone longer and longer from sight. But it remained that the fear of humans was non- existent.

So I guess with the sharks. I assume they never really had much fear of humans any way. Some attacks in back history is known. Now in today's world. We have people feeding and swimming around them. Sharks and humans are becoming in each other's environment. I am referring to the tourist side. Shark caging and swimming around them touching them, and photo opt's. ( Oooo look at me with shark! )

For the most part in the rest of us. We do our thing enjoying the beach and water. Surfing, Kite boarding, Kayaking and what ever else. Great enjoyment ! Just trying not to be the next meal.

Thanks for every one's input so far!

One of the place I scuba dove at people would feed the eels. They would come out and follow you around begging for food I guess. You had to be careful holding something in your hand because they would try to take it from you. Not to mention swimming across your legs or body while you are paying attention to something else (no wet suit). A normal eel stays in it's hole during daytime.

There is in Crocosaurus Cove ( Australian tourist park) a dive with giant saltwater crocodile , the diver is inside a deep plexiglass cylinder wearing snorkel and mask! Which is lowered into the pool with the crocs
Could be a shattering experience