How to Save Swimmers Without Killing Sharks

It's that time of year when you’ll be inundated with all things shark, what with Sharknado 2 and "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel. And so scientists want to remind you that we can coexist with the landlord, as surfers refer to the ocean’s top predator.  “More humans are killed by toasters, cows, or vending machines than are killed by sharks, and heart disease kills about a million times as many people as sharks do,” David Shiffman, a shark scientist at the University of Miami, wrote in a commentary published Monday in the journal Animal Conservation. “Many commonly used ‘shark control’ strategies involve killing sharks with the goal of reducing the probability of a swimmer encountering a shark.”

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Video: Diver Kisses Shark and Gets Bitten

We thought this was a pretty obvious rule of thumb, but to be clear: Never kiss a shark on the lips. Shark Week may help promote understanding and respect for one of the most feared sea creatures, but for some people, it takes a (very) close encounter with a shark to learn the true power of these animals.

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