From the physical features of an apex predator to a series of brutal encounters with humans,
this is what happens when tiger sharks attack.
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The tiger shark is one of the largest shark species on Earth, second only to the great
white in terms of fatal attacks on humans.
It’s the only member of the Galeocerdo genus and draws its common name from the dark vertical
stripes on its back, similar to those on a tiger.
It can reach lengths of up to 18 feet and weigh close to 2,000 pounds.
There’s almost nothing in the ocean that can escape the jaws of this ferocious beast.
It will feast on seals, birds, dolphins, fish or crustaceans and is even known to take on
injured or ailing whales.
Tiger sharks have a notorious reputation for eating anything, including items thrown away
by humans like oil cans, tires or license plates.
Their size, strength and predatory attributes make these creatures highly dangerous.
Swimming in areas known for tiger shark presence can result in serious injuries and even death.
Number 4 Dylan McWilliams In April 2018, Dylan McWilliams survived a
vicious tiger shark attack off the coast of Hawaii.
The 20-year-old was body boarding when something hit his leg.
As he looked in the water, he saw the apex predator underneath him.
He started kicking the shark repeatedly and swam to shore as quickly as he could.
The tiger shark left distinctive teeth marks on McWilliams’s leg, which required seven
stitches to close.
This wasn’t, however, the man’s first bloody brush with the animal kingdom.
In the past he survived being bitten by a rattlesnake during a hiking trip to Utah.
He also survived a bear attack by poking the beast in the eyes, even though it had clamped
its jaws on his head.
When asked about a potential fourth encounter with dangerous wildlife, McWilliams said,
“anything could happen”.
Before we move on, answer this question.
In what region is the tiger shark believed to be sacred?
Is It a.
Hawaii b.
Australia c.
Indonesia d.
Gulf of Mexico Let us know what you think in the comments
section below and stay tuned to find out the right answer.
Tiger sharks prefer temperate and tropical waters, particularly around islands in the
central Pacific.
They tend to follow warm currents and their behavior is generally nomadic.
They mostly stick to deep waters but will move into shallower channels, in order to
pursue prey.
Tiger sharks can be seen in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, coastal parts of
the Americas as well as off Australia, Africa, India or Indonesia.
Number 3 Missing Sailor In 2010, investment banker Humphrey Simmons
and a few of his friends were on a fishing trip in the Bahamas.
Simmons was fishing for grouper but caught a heavy tiger shark on his line.
He said that it was roughly half the size of the boat.
As he was trying to pull the beast closer, in order to cut it loose, the tiger shark
regurgitated a decaying human foot .That’s when one of Simmons’ friends shot it a few
times in the head.
The animal was subsequently brought ashore and examined by a team of morticians.
The contents of its stomach revealed a partly decomposed, headless human body.
Analysis indicated that, as the shark attacked its victim, it nearly severed the torso in
half.
The head had either been torn off in the attack or eaten whole and regurgitated later.
The body was subsequently identified as belonging to a sailor who’d gone missing.
The tiger shark is one of nature’s most efficiently-designed killing machines.
A nearly terminal mouth, strong serrated teeth and broad, heavily calcified jaws enable the
shark to go after large prey.
These elements, combined with its size and strength, mean it would make quick work of
you.
Every bite that a large tiger shark lands on you is a potentially fatal attack.
Even if it doesn’t devour you, the attack may result in drowning or bleeding to death.
They’ve been known to attack divers in shallow waters and to chase them to the surface from
the deep.
Tiger sharks may appear sluggish, but they’re among the strongest swimmers of their kind.
Once they approach their prey, a burst of speed enables them to reach it before it can
escape.
Tiger sharks can even hunt in conditions of low visibility by picking up the vibrations
made by their prey in the water.
An acute sense of smell enables them to detect even faint traces of blood which they can
then follow quickly, aided by their excellent eyesight.
Number 2 Jordan Lindsey In June 2019, 21-year-old California student
Jordan Lindsey was mauled to death by three tiger sharks right before the eyes of her
mother.
At the time, the young woman was snorkeling with her mother, Kami, in the Bahamas.
The rest of her family and her girlfriend were on the same trip but on another part
of the island.
The brutal attack unfolded quickly and without warning.
Jordan suffered devastating bites on her legs, left arm and buttocks.
Her right arm was completely torn off, but she still tried to swim away to safety.
Kami was only a few feet from her daughter as the sharks were biting into her.
She tried to punch the beasts to save Jordan but was powerless to stop the attack.
The last thing Jordan said to her mother reportedly was “Mom, there’s another shark coming”.
All Kami could do, in the end, was to drag Jordan’s bloodied body ashore as the sharks
swam away.
She was later pronounced dead at Doctor’s Hospital in Nassau.
So, in what region is the tiger shark considered sacred?
The right answer was a, Hawaii.
Some native Hawaiians believe the tiger shark to be ancestor spirits or na ‘aumakua.
Their appearance is considered an omen and there are many stories of aumakua intervening
in animal form to save their descendants from harm.
There’s also the belief that a tiger shark’s eyes have special powers of perception and
that they can peer into the spirit world.
A tiger shark will typically start circling you before it attacks.
Maintain eye contact, as you need to know which way the attack will come from.
Don’t try to swim away, unless you’re very close to the shore or a boat.
Don’t make sudden moves and get into a defensive position that will minimize the shark’s
chances of attacking you from behind.
If the shark attacks, the only way out is to fight it.
Playing dead definitely won’t help against this apex predator.
If all you have is your bear hands, punch or claw at its eyes, gills or snout.
Use short, strong jabs rather than winding punches.
It’s quite literally a fight for your life, so don’t stop hitting the shark until it
swims away.
Your next priority is getting out of the water and seeking medical attention for any injuries
you sustained in the attack.
Number 1 Bethany Hamilton In 2003, professional surfer Bethany Hamilton
was attacked by a tiger shark that severed her left arm just below the shoulder.
Only 13 at the time, Hamilton was out on a morning surf along a beach on the Hawaiian
island of Kauai.
She was with her best friend and fellow surfer Alana Blanchard and her family.
While in the water, Hamilton felt a tug on her board and knew right away what was happening.
The 14-foot-long tiger shark clamped on her arm and tore it off before swimming away.
The Blanchards took Hamilton back to shore and fashioned a tourniquet around the stump
of her arm.
She was rushed to the hospital, in shock, after she’d suffered over 60% blood loss.
She had surgery and ultimately made a remarkable recovery.
Within a month of the attack Hamilton was back on a surf board.
Not only that, but she continued to surf professionally, placing first numerous times.
Thanks for watching!
Would you rather face a single tiger shark in deep water or several tiger sharks in the
shallow, with the shore nearby?
Let us know in the comments section below!