Posted on 01/09/2009 7:53:40 PM PST by nickcarraway
Scientist-adventurer Brady Barr has traveled all over the world to study hundreds of animal species, but a recent trip took him somewhere few people have ever been -- to see one of the world's most mysterious, and some believe one of the oldest living creatures.
Call it the "Jurassic shark." The six-gill shark is one of the least understood sharks in the world, Barr said. That's because the six-gill lives thousands of feet below the ocean's surface in frigid, pitch-black waters and almost never comes into contact with humans.
Barr, 46, went to Central America and traveled 1,700 feet underwater in a man-made submarine to catch a glimpse of the ancient creature for his National Geographic Channel series, "Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr."
"More people go to the top of Mount Everest than the ocean floor," he said.
Barr sat on the ocean floor for six hours and eventually he spotted several six-gills, the third largest shark species, which have green eyes like night-vision goggles that allow the sharks to see in the dark waters.
"I grew up in the time of 'Jaws,' so sharks terrified me," said Barr, who grew up far from the ocean in Indiana. And his recent shark encounter still got his "heart beating fast."
Crocodile Ambassador
A herpetologist, Barr is a crocodile expert, calling himself the "ambassador for that animal," and the only one to have captured all 23 species of crocodile.
"I don't capture animals just for TV, there has to be a scientific reason," Barr said.
Barr's mission is two-fold -- to collect as much information as possible about the animals he studies and to educate people about the plight of the planet and the danger of extinction so many animal species face.
For example, one-third of all crocodile species are endangered, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I always wanted to travel in a naturally-occuring submarine.
I don’t think Jonah would recommend it.
> I always wanted to travel in a naturally-occuring submarine.
(grin!) get eaten by that Jurassic Shark and your wish will be granted. As a special bonus we’ll even nick-name you “Jonah”.
Thanks for sharing. The video is awesome.
The alien-made ones are of better quality, or so I've been told.
Barr is too much of a drama queen.
Everythimg is the biggest, most dangerous, meanest, fastest, etc, etc. than ANYONE ever faced before
He also stages events (no surprise) to let him seem to be in more danger than he actually is. All while letting the underlings accomplish the real risks but without screaming like a school girl. If you look closely, they seem amused by this raving, girly man poseur
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Thanks and LOL, nickcarraway.I always wanted to travel in a naturally-occuring submarine.To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
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Right, I was thinking that would have to be a whale?
That is because Sherpas can't swim.
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