Read More. It senses our thrashing and splashing in the water and we often appear very seal-like when on surf boards or treading water. Reasons for Attacks. They have little fear of any other creature (except for orcas), but like most sophisticated hunters, they are curious when they encounter something unusual in their territory. Researchers test if sharks really mistake humans for seals. Why do shark attacks occur? Furthermore, most sharks attacks are the result of human provoking a shark like while a fisherman is killing them or a person steps on one accidentally. SHARK ATTACK MAP 2018 – 2019. a sea turtle Advertisement. Sharks detect the smell of blood in the water and the electrical impulses of a dying fish through sensors in their: snout. In fact, sharks do not know what the feeling of hunger is, and in fact, can go for many months without eating. Sharks are apex predators; a predator at the top of the food chain upon which no other creatures prey. ... and one on a surfboard does an even better job." Why Do Sharks Attack? Many attacks on divers and surfers especially can be attained to searching for food. People and sharks are in deep waters, and victims do not notice the presence of the animal. This is not to say that sharks do not attack with the intention of seeking prey. But that's probably not true, and the reasons why might be a comfort to you, or they might not. Most shark attacks on humans are cases of mistaken identity, as wetsuits and surfboards can make a human in the water look a lot like a shark's prey - the seal. Wiki User March 23, 2012 5:59PM. Humans, however, are not of the ocean. Skip to main content ... And even if they were going to attack humans for food, we're really not worth the effort. Most fatal shark attacks occur because the shark misidentified its prey. Several theories have been put forward by experts as to why white sharks sometimes bite people. Top Answer. Firstly it is important to realise that shark attacks are far more rare than many people … Sharks can see heat and electric fields, as well as vibrations. It has VERY weak eye sight. The shark mistakenly human with a prey and bites it continually before moving away or continuing to attack. Why do sharks really attack swimmers? Despite their relative rarity, many people fear shark attacks after occasional serial attacks, such as the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, and … Is there a comforting way to be bitten by a shark? Sharks do not attack humans for the sole purpose of hunger. We’ve put together a shark attack map for 2018 – 2019 (so far) using the data from Global Shark Attack File (GSAF) produced by the Shark Research Institute.If you click upon the icons on the map you’ll find more information about each shark attack, such as what type of attack, type of shark, who was attacked etc. There's an idea floating around that sharks attack surfers and other swimmers unprovoked because to the shark it looks like a seal, and a seal looks like lunch. a beluga whale. Do sharks really mistake humans for seals? Sharks can also get pretty territorial when food is around, and see a human as potential competition. A shark attack is an attack on a human by a shark. Every year, around 80 unprovoked attacks are reported worldwide. To do this, you can read up on what kinds of sharks live in the water you're about to swim in, or learn about which species of shark have been known to go after humans. So why do sharks attack humans? Sharks do not attack humans for the sole purpose of hunger. In this article we examine three of the most prominent theories and look at why most of these incidents are non-fatal. And how can you avoid being mistaken for prey next time you're at the beach? There are several motivating factors behind shark attacks. A shark is most likely to mistake a human on a surfboard for: another shark. At least that's the premise behind the "mistaken identity" theory that tries to explain why sharks sometimes attack people. If someone is splashing in the water while swimming, the shark will relate that to a struggling fish or seal, easy prey. Scroll To Start Quiz. When a surfer puts on his/her wetsuit, and paddles out on their surf board waiting for a wave, you could say the shape might resemble that of a seal on the surface, and that would then reasonably justify why a great white shark would decide to attack a human. Despite the infrequency of sharks attacking humans, the fact that they do occasionally wreak havoc on an unsuspecting swimmer or surfer leads us to wonder if and why sharks attack humans purposefully.