What is it about?
The original concept of “rogue” individuals among predator species has been superseded in recent decades by the concept of “problem individuals.” Although widely accepted as valid in terrestrial predators such as big cats, there is greater reluctance to accept that this phenomenon may also exist among large shark species. In this study, we provide empirical evidence of individuals from two species of shark repeatedly targeting humans and thereby meeting the definition of “problem individuals” as recognized in terrestrial predators.
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Why is it important?
These case studies provide some of the first evidence for the existence of “problem individuals” among sharks. Broader use of shark bite wound swabbing will help determine the proportion of bites caused by “problem individuals,” enabling a clearer assessment of whether a combination of selective removal and non-lethal strategies, such as drone surveillance, could replace harmful, non-selective mass culling as a shark risk mitigation strategy.
Perspectives
The percentage of fatalities due to the same shark individual are not known, so we recommend systematic swabbing of shark bite victims wounds to better understand the importance of this phenomenon and the possibility of identifying these animals. Environmentally conscientious management options for problem individuals range from prohibiting ocean activities (e.g., swimming and surfing) in their habitats to selectively removing the individual, although the latter would be challenging in the marine environment.
Prof. Eric EG CLUA
COMUE Paris Sciences et Lettres
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: First Evidence of Individual Sharks Involved in Multiple Predatory Bites on People, Conservation Letters, November 2024, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/conl.13067.
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