why do sharks attack humans?

Answer 1

They're hungry?

But seriously, sharks do not consider humans as a good meal. They prefer something fat like seals.

They often bite us by mistake.

Answer 2

The shark is little more than a feeding machine - a number of different signals that the shark may receive trigger a feeding response (the response basically being "if it looks like food or acts like food then bite it and find out whether it is food"):-

+ splashing or thrashing about in the water (i.e. swimming)seems to the shark like the actions of an injured prey animal. Sharks can detect vibrations in the water from an incredible distance away
+ blood from any small cut (or from a menstruating woman) will again indicate to the shark that it's lunchtime. Basically - "if it bleeds then it must be living therefore it is food". Sharks can smell blood from miles away.
+ many sharks attack prey that is on the surface by coming up underneath - so any human swimming on the surface will cast a shadow that says "prey" to the shark
+ there are concerns that tourist diving trips to swim with and feed sharks will cause them to associate humans with food so that shark attacks in these tourist areas may increase

The more of these factors that are present the more likely a shark attack becomes.

Answer 3

Why Do Sharks Attack Humans?

Sharks do not attack humans for the sole purpose of hunger. In fact, sharks do not know what the feeling of hunger is, and in fact, can go for many months without eating. This is not to say that sharks do not attack with the intention of seeking prey. Many attacks on divers and surfers especially can be attained to searching for food. To a shark, a surfer on a surfboard slightly resembles that of a seal or sea lion, or a diver in a black wetsuit can look like other prey.

Sharks also attack humans because they have been provoked or agitated by the person. Many spear-fishers have been attacked by reef sharks because when they spear fish, the blood from the fish and it's vibrations can sometimes result in a feeding frenzy by many sharks. Bright colours can also be counted for attacks. As many people have believed in the past, sharks do in fact can see colours, and do indeed have very good eyesight. Avoid wearing the colours of orange and yellow, as this can aggravate the shark, and possibly lead to attacks.

Sharks are in fact attracted by splashing and vibrations in the water, and it can sometimes be attributed to attacks. Most scientists have not been able to predict why and where sharks attacks.

Answer 4

Hi Sam,

generally sharks do not attack humans, but those that do have a number of reasons.

Firstly...because they are hungry. They eat meat (usually other fish) and we are meat, and very poor and easy to catch swimmers.

Secondly...because we invade their territory. Many animals are territorial and sharks are no different. Mother sharks will kill to defend a perceived threat against their young.

Thirdly...just because we ARE 'easy meat' and they may enjoy the 'sport' of playing with our dismembered bodies...Hmmm!

Cheers, and stay out of the water!

BobSpain

Answer 5

Generally they don't. They most often attack surfers cause surfers look like thier favorite tasty meal: sea lions or seals.

Most often sharks will bite a human and let go 'cause we don't taste too good. (except for the great white.)

Answer 6

when we are swimming on the surface of the water, the shark mistakes our shadow for a seals, the sharks favorite food.

Answer 7

Sharks Order Orectolobiformes family contributors Rhincodontidae Whale shark, Rhincodon typus Order Carcharhiniformes family contributors Scyliorhinidae Sponge-headed cat shark, Apristurus spongiceps family contributors Pseudotriakidae fake cat shark, Pseudotriakis microdon family contributors Carcharhinidae Bignose shark, Carcharhinus altimus gray reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Silky shark, Carcharhinus falicformes Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus Oceanic whitetip, Carcharhinus longimanus Blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus Sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier Blue shark, Prionace glauca Whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus family contributors Sphyrnidae Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini gentle hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena Order Lamniformes family contributors Odontaspididae Smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox Bigeye sand tiger shark, Odontaspis noronhai family contributors Psedocarchariidae Crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai family contributors Megachasmidae Megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios family contributors Alopiidae Pelagic thresher shark, Alopias pelagicus Bigeye thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus family contributors Lamnidae White shark, Carcharodon carcharias short-finned mako, Isurus oxyrinchus Longfin mako, Isurus paucus Order Hexanchiformes family contributors Hexanchidae Frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus Order Squaliformes family contributors Echinorhinidae Prickly shark, Echinorhinus cookei family contributors Dalatiidae Combtooth dogfish, Centroscyllium nigrum Kitefin shark, Dalatias licha Blurred gentle lantern shark, Etmopterus bigelowi Blackbelly lantern shark, Etmopterus lucifer gentle lantern shark, Etmopterus pussilus Hawaiian lantern shark, Etmopterus villosus Pygmy shark, Euprotomicrus bispinatus Cookiecutter shark, Isistius brasiliensis Viper dogfish, Trigonognathus kabeyai Velvet dogfish, Scymnodon squamulosus family contributors Centrophoridae Mosaic gulper shark, Centrophorus tessellatus Gulper shark, Centrophorus sp. family contributors Squalidae Shortspine spurdog shark, Squalus mitsukurii those are the sharks in hawaii wish i helped :D

Answer 8

They mistake humans for seals or dolphins. They aren't very clever.

Answer 9

usually it a case of mistaken identity..good luck

Answer 10

because he wants to eat you.