Page 46 - World of Animals - Book of Sharks & Ocean Predators

Sharks & Ocean Predators
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King of the oceans

These majestic sharks live in oceans across the Great whites spend most of their time near the
world, usually gathering in the shallower waters of surface, but have been known to dive to around
the continental slopes. Their principal habitat is the 1,875 metres (6,151 feet) in open oceans. Because
Pelagic zone – the upper part of the water column of their preference to be close to the shore,
where light is still in plentiful supply. The sharks they have often clashed with humans, earning
will usually stay wherever food can be found, so themselves a reputation as murderous thugs. This
make their homes near coastal areas populated by is unfair on the sharks, however, as most attacks
plenty of seals and sea lions. are mere cases of mistaken identity.
Areas where deep water is close to the shore There are hot spots of shark activity across
are favourite haunts, as are offshore reefs, banks, the world, with greater concentrations of great
shoals and rocky headlands. These sharks also whites off the coasts of South Africa, Australia
like to cruise around seamounts and island and California. They’re also found along the coast
archipelagos, looking for food or mates depending of Hawaii, most of South America, the Gulf coast,
on the location and time of year. Many will make New Zealand and the Mediterranean Sea. Great
long migrations each year to visit feeding or whites rarely venture into icy waters but some are
breeding grounds. spotted on the Alaskan and Canadian coasts.

Environmental factors
Life in the sea has issues even for these mighty ocean rulers
Commercial fi sheries Poachers
Great whites can fall victim to Despite their protection, great
white sharks are targeted to make
© Alamy, Corbis, Getty, NPL, Thinkstock, Michael HJC, Jim E Margos, G W Sharks killed in nets intended to catch other delicacy. Poachers cut off the fins

bycatch from the fishing industry.

shark-fin soup, a supposed oriental
The creatures are o en trapped and

and throw the animals back.

fish for humans to eat.
Changing climates
Shark nets
It’s not easy to predict the aff ect
Designed to cordon off coastal areas

climate change may have, but
and make them safe for humans

to swim in, these colossal nets can
alterations in climate may influence
entangle and kill sharks, as well as
prey distribution, which in turn

46 other marine life. could affect the great whites.
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