This woman gets close to sharks to help protect them. Is that a good idea?
Imagine you’re splashing around in the ocean. Suddenly, you spot a shark. A massive great white shark. It’s one of the most dangerous predators in the ocean. What would you do?
Most people would swim away in terror. But not Ocean Ramsey. Last January, she spotted a great white off the coast of Hawaii. She swam right up to the shark and petted it. A member of her team snapped a few photos. Then Ramsey posted the pictures online.
Protecting Sharks
CALEB JONES/AP IMAGES
Ocean Ramsey
Ramsey often poses with sharks. She wants people to see that sharks are not monsters. Sharks actually need our protection. Each year, between 70 million and 100 million sharks are killed by humans. Most are hunted for their fins. Shark fin soup is a prized dish in some countries. Now, many species of sharks are in danger of dying out.
No Shark Snuggles
When it comes to protecting sharks, we should all care as much as Ramsey. Still, scientists were shocked by her photos. Getting so close to a shark is dangerous for humans—and sharks.
And Ramsey isn’t the only one snapping photos of wild animals. Social media is filled with photos of people hugging elephants and cuddling lion cubs. This can be dangerous for humans. It can also be harmful to the animals.
Experts say wild animals are just that—wild. While it’s OK to take photos of these creatures, do it from far away. And avoid taking photos with animals that are being held or hugged, or can hurt you.
So yes, learn everything you can about sharks and wild animals. And work to protect them. But if you want a good animal photo, pose with your pet dog.
Can't Miss Teaching Extras
Are your students having a hard time believing that Ocean Ramsey really swims with sharks!? Share this 4-minute video footage of Ramsey swimming with a great white shark. There’s no narration, so have your students call out what they notice while watching
Experts agree - you have to be careful when taking pictures of or with wild animals. Share with your students our nonfiction article “Who Owns a Monkey Selfie?” to continue exploring this complicated topic.
