Shark Affection: Why?

Welcome back to the channel and welcome back to the incredible Tiger Beach in that Bahamas. Today, I want to dive into the fascinating topic of showing affection towards lemon sharks and tiger sharks.
Let's start with this remarkable video of the renowned shark expert, Jim Abernethy, gently interacting with a lemon shark. As you can see, he's even able to carefully pick up the shark, an invaluable skill when removing fishing hooks from these animals.
Now, some might say, "No way! Leave them alone!" But here's why we engage in these interactions in highly controlled, professional situations - and that's the key. We have undergone countless hours of extensive training to understand shark behavior and ensure the safety of both the animals and our team.
When you're in the presence of these majestic creatures, you're entering their world, and anything can happen. That's why we approach every encounter with the utmost respect and caution.
Here at Tiger Beach, we view our interactions as a crucial interface between humans and sharks. For far too long, these incredible animals have been portrayed by much of humanity as mindless, vicious killers. But if our responsible interactions can shatter even a few of those misguided perspectives, it's absolutely worth the effort.
Make no mistake; this is dangerous work. We are highly trained professionals, but the risks are ever-present. I would never recommend these interactions to anyone who isn't fully devoted to the study and conservation of these animals. It's not something to put on a bucket list.
People often express immense love and admiration for gentle giants like manatees, and rightly so. We should never touch or disturb them in the wild. But sharks, despite their perceived fearsome nature, are equally deserving of our respect and protection.
Sadly, some have even commented that a hooked shark deserves its fate. But imagine the outcry if a land animal had a hook in it.
So, that's the reasoning behind our affectionate interactions with these incredible creatures. If you appreciate our mission, please subscribe to our KZbin channel and follow us on Instagram. And if you'd like to learn more about forging connections with sharks, check out this video...