COLUMBIA (WACH)—Partly thanks to Hollywood, sharks have become one of the most feared creatures to swim around the ocean. It should be noted, right off the bat that contrary to the myths created by Tinsel Town, seldom to sharks attack boats. The International Shark Attack Flies The reality is annually, there were only 79 shark attacks in the world in 2010, only 6 of which were fatal. In the Palmetto State, since 1837, there have only been 64 reported shark attacks and 2 fatalities off our shores. The last attack resulting in death was in 1852.
Reasoning that those are good numbers, unless, of course, you are the one of 64 that become a snack, how does your risk of other injuries stack up to a potential shark attack? The ISAF says that between 1990 and 2009, there were a total of 15,011 deaths related to bicycles in the world, and only 14 as a result of an attack. If you are of the mind set of relating riding a bike to going to the beach, it’s reported that from 1990 to 2006, there were 11 shark related deaths, and 16 as a result of a sand hole collapse.
According to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Aquarium Manager Jennifer Rawlings, there are over 1200 species of sharks and stingrays, ranging in size between 6.7 inches.
Sharks are carnivores, dining on a variety of other sea life. Although there are many myths about sharks, Rawlings does say that the sharks acute sense of smell does attack them to blood in the water, however, they are not particular to human blood or flesh for that matter.
At Riverbanks, visitors can view 16 different sharks and both fresh and salt water stingrays in the Aquarium Reptile Complex (ARC). The ARC is also the home to many other exotic sea and land creatures, including piranha, an anaconda, cobras, skinks, and more.
Wild Wednesdays is a bi-weekly segment on Good Day Columbia that explores all the wild things that go on at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, from playing with lemurs to diving with piranha and letting a 500 pound alligator.
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