Posted on 07/12/2004 11:24:44 AM PDT by Area Freeper
The death of a surfer mauled by a shark has rekindled debate over the safety of people swimming off Australia's world-renowned beaches but also the plight of sharks, some species of which are being hunted to the brink of extinction.
Bradley Adrian Smith, 29, died Saturday afternoon after being savaged in the Indian Ocean off Left Handers Beach, south of Western Australia state capital, Perth.
Witnesses said Smith tried to fight off at least one and possibly two sharks, which officials said most likely were great whites, although they said they could also have been bronze whaler sharks.
Authorities Monday continued to hunt for the killer shark and said they would likely shoot it if they can conclusively prove they have found the animal responsible for Smith's death.
But the shark also found an unlikely ally -- with the dead surfer's brother saying the animal should not be killed.
"I don't believe that the shark should be killed just for the sake of what's happened in this situation," Stephen Smith told reporters on Sunday. "I don't believe that Brad can be revenged by killing a shark."
In many parts of the world, great white sharks, which can grow to 23 feet in length, are listed as an endangered species. They breed at a slow rate and have in the past been targeted by hunters or accidentally caught in fishermen's nets.
Other smaller species of shark are being decimated by fishermen who hunt them for their fins -- a delicacy in some Asian nations -- cutting off the fin before dumping the animal back in the ocean to die.
Orin Lifshitz, head curator at the Aquarium of Western Australia in Perth, said hunting for and killing the shark would be not only difficult, but pointless.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Some brother he is. Reminds me of Nick Bergs dad.
Is anyone else concerned with the fact that, after years of acting independently, these "great sharks of no special racial connotation" have statred to hunt in teams?
What a fool.
Probably a President Bush-hating liberal as well.
It's not about revenge - it's about prevention.
"it's about prevention."
Here's some prevention - DON'T SURF IN SHARK-INFESTED WATER.
1.Sharks don't attack because they are evil.
2. They are growing more endangered.
3. This business about now-they-have-a-taste-for-blood is a crock.
I live on the coast. I paddle, fish, mess around on the beach but have more sense than to swim around in the surf like so many baby-back ribs on their dinner plate.
MSNBC has a story very similar to this one. There's also a poll on whether the shark should be killed. I was stunned to see that 77 percent of people who voted said the shark SHOULDN'T be killed!
That's one way to do it.
But if you want to surf, kill every shark you see.
Every MSNBC poll has the same lame audience, that's why.
After several million years, even the most base creature (Must swim... must feed... must swim... must feed...) is bound to try something new... ;0)
Revenge? How about prevention?
You swim in their territory and then call foul. I don't believe this. Why kill the shark for it doing what is instinct. We Don't own the whole damn planet, and dominion over everything in it. I'm glad his brother said not to kill the shark. Jeesus Christ, you people, open up your eyes. We don't own the whole world and everything in it. The day we believe we do will be the day of the start of our demise. The planet was never meant for only one. It doesn't work that way.
No shiite. What a bumdass..
I am with you on this one.
Some may have missed the related thread here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1169750/posts
Really? I don't have an opinion one way or the other, but it does seem to make sense that if the animals are hunted in a certain area, they will stay away.
Poor T-Rex he is just misunderstood..
I always thought I did. ;)
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