Dinosaurs of the sea

The Shark  by Lord Alfred Douglas

 

A treacherous monster is the Shark

He never makes the least remark.

And when he sees you on the sand,

He doesn't seem to want to land.

He watches you take off your clothes,

And not the least excitement shows.

His eyes do not grow bright or roll,

He has astonishing self-control.

He waits till you are quite undressed,

And seems to take no interest.

And when towards the sea you leap,

He looks as if he were asleep.

But when you once get in his range,

His whole demeanor seems to change.

He throws his body right about,

And his true character comes out.

It's no use crying or appealing,

He seems to lose all decent feeling.

After this warning you will wish

To keep clear of this treacherous fish.

His back is black, his stomach white,

He has a very dangerous bite.

There are 750 different species of sharks.  They have existed on this planet for 700 million years and play an important role in our eco system.  However, they are facing  extinction because they are  being hunted for their fins--especially in Japan and Southeast Asia where shark fin soup is considered a delicacy (a pound of shark fins may cost as much as $800).  Many fishermen catch them, cut off their fins and drop them back into the sea, condemning them to die.

Normally, sharks mind their own business.  Their strong sense of sound (through vibration) and smell help them survive on fish and other seafood.  They attack only when they feel danger and are valuable participants in our eco system. 

Suspecting that many SAS students are making plans to get into cages to get a close look at white sharks, the following warning was sounded by the Executive Dean:

If visiting South Africa’s expansive coastline, be mindful of the possible presence of sharks when swimming or engaging in water sports. In 2010, at the Fish Hoek beach, and in 2005 and 2006 in the False Bay area of the Western Cape, several people were attacked by sharks; some of the attacks were fatal. When a shark is spotted close to the shore, local authorities will sound a warning siren to notify swimmers.