CONTACT WITH A BAT, CALL YOUR DOCTOR OR VETERINARIAN A.S.A..P MARIA: 5 INVESTIGATES IS THINKING SUMMER EXAMINGIN SOMETHING THAT’S PROBABLY THE LAST THING ON YOUR MIND AT THE
END OF FEBRUARY, THE GROWING SHARK POPULATION OFF THE COAST OF MASSACHUSET.TS MIKE BEAUDET OBTAINED EMAILS FROM THE STATE’S TOP SHKAR EXPERT AND THEY’RE PROVIDING AN
INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT’S GOING ON BEHIND-THE-SCENES.
>> WINTER ON CAPE COD CONCEALS WHAT’S BECOME AN UNSETTLING REALITY DURING THE SUMMER.
SHARKS.
THEY’RE A REAL AND GROWING CONCERN.
AN AUGUST ATTACKN OA SWIMMER IN TRURO WAS FOLLOWED BY A DEADLY ENCOTEUNR BETWEEN A SHARK AND A MAN ON A BOOGIE BOARD IN WELLFLEET.
IN SEPTEMBER, THE FIRST FALTA SHARK ATTACK IN MASSACHUSESTT SINCE 1936.
26-YEAR-OLD ARTHUR MEDICI WAS KILL.ED I HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR THESE ANIMALS AND QUITE HONESTLY I HAVE AN INHERENT FEAR OF THEM AS WELL.
DR. GREG SKOMAL IS WITH THE STATE’S DIVISION OF MANERI FISHERIES, AND DODGED A GREAT WHITE OFF THE CAPE LAST SUMMER WHILE TRYING TO TAG IT.
I’VE SEEN WHAT THEY DO TO PEOPLE.
I HAVE HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT IT.
>> HIS SLEEPLESS NIGHTS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS, GREAT WHITE SHARK SIGHTINGS ON THE CAPE LAST SUMMER.
THEY’RE EVERYWHE.ER FROM THE TIP OF PROVINCETOWN DOWN TO CHATHAM ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE ATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVAY.
AND THE NUMBERS ARE WAY UP A 6 >> THE NUMBER OF SHARKS IS INDEED BUILDING IN RESPONSE TO THE SEALS.
>> THE GROWING SEAL POPULATION, ESTIMATED TO BE AT LEAST 50,000 ON THE CAPE IS A FEAST FOR THE SHARKS SO IF YOU HAVE TWO SHARKS THAT COME BACK EACH YEAR AND THEN A
NEW ONE, THEN IT BECOMES THREE SHARKS, THEN 5 SHARKS, THEN 10 AND THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK.
>> 5 INVESTIGATES AND NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM OBTAINED HUNDREDS OF DR. SKOMAL’S EMAILS.
THEY PROVIDE A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE DIFFICULT SEARCH FOR SOLUTION I HAD A SINKING FEELING THAT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER MY VISIT STLA YEAR, WRITES ONE SHARK BIOLOGIST
TO SKOMAL.
IT HAS BEEN A BRUTAL SUMMER,E H WRITES IN ONE EMAIL.
IN ANOTHER, CRAZY RIGHT NOW, BUT SHOULD SETTLE IF NOBODY ELSE GETS BITTEN.
THE EMAILS ALSO SHOW COMPANIES REACHING OUT TO SKOMAL INCLUDING AMANDA WILSON’S WHO LIVED IN AUSTRALIA WHEN THERE WERE 5 FATAL SHARK ATTACKS IN TWO YEARS.
>> I’VE LIVED THROUGH THAT ANID KNOW HOW DEVASTATING IT CAN BE FOR TOURISM, FOR PEOPLE GOING IN THE WATER.
>> THE COMPANY MANUFACTURES THE SHARK SHIELD WHICH PRODUCES AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD AIMED AT REPELLING SHAR.KS WHAT CAN MASSACHUSETTS LEARN FROM AUSTRALIA?
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT THE DISCUSSION HAS BECOME IN AUSTRALIA IS HOW TO TAKE YOUR OWN SAFETY MORE SERIOUSLY.
>> DR. SKOMAL’S EMAILS ALSO REFERENCE CAPE SURFERS WHOE SAYS, REFUSE TO ALTER THEIR BEHAVIOR.
IS THERE FEAR?
>> LOTS OF FEAR.
>> JOHN KARTSOUNIS IS A SURFER WHO WILL NO LONGER ALLOW HIS ADULT CHILDREN TO SURF ON THE CAPE.
HE BELIEVES THE EXTREME SITUATION CALLS FOR EXTREME MEASURES ALLOWING SEALS DAN SHARKS TO BE HUNTED.
>> WE HAVE AN OVER-POPULATION OF SEALS.
THAT’S THE ISSUE.
>> IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT MANAGED, WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN?
MORE DEAS.TH MORE ARTHUR MEDICIS.
>> UPDATING THE SIGNS, BROCHESUR AND SAFETY TIPS.
CYNTHIA WIGREN FROM ATLAIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY SPOKE AT A SHARK SAFETY PUBLIC FOMRU EARLIER THIS MONTH ABOUT STRATEGIES FROM THE WHITE SHARK WORKING GROUP MADE UOFP
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.
>> WE HAVE BEEN GATHINGER INFORMATION FROM AROUND THE GLE.OB THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS.
>> DO YOU THINK WE’RE GOINGO T SEE MORE SHARK ATTACKS?
AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE RISK AND GO OUT IONT DEEP WATER WHERE THESE SHARKS ARE HUNTING, THE PROBABILITY OF ADDITIONAL ATTACKS IS QUITE HIGH
>> RESEARCHERS JUST STARTED A NEW STUDY TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT ETH THE SHARK PROBLEM.
BUT THE RESULTS AREN’T EXPECTED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, AFTER THE BUSY SUMMER TOURIST SEASON.
COMING UP AT 7:00, THE AUNOFT FATAL SHARK ATTACK VICTIM ARTHUR MEDICI.
WHAT SHE SAYS NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW TO SAV