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Influencers urged to stop taking selfies with sharks after trend takes dark turn

Experts have warned never to touch or agitate sharks following a series of incidents in which social media influencers have been attacked by the marine creatures.

[Grey shark ready to attack a scuba diver]

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Influencers are being warned to leave sharks alone (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Social media influencers are ignoring expert advice and putting themselves at risk by getting too close to sharks in their natural habitat, experts have warned. This comes following an alarming series of incidents in which people have been bitten by the marine creatures while trying to get videos and images of them.

Warning: The two clips included in this article feature footage of real-life shark attacks

Scientists are warning that agitating sharks in their natural habitat can cause them to lash out. Earlier this year a diver snorkelling in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco was left with a massive bite mark after an encounter with a nurse shark. Shocking footage on social media shows Tayane Dalazen swimming close to the animal, which suddenly clamps down on her leg.

She survived, but was left with a large bite mark on her leg. Tayane said: "I felt it shaking me by the leg. I thought I could not put my hand there, because it could rip it off. The guide had to hit it so it would let me go."

Nurse sharks' normal prey consists of smaller creatures such as molluscs, and their mouths and teeth are designed to suck up food from the seabed and crush shells. Attacks on humans are rare, and experts have said when they do happen they are usually due to irregular feeding patters.

In July another content creator, Henry Gibbs, was attacked by a grey reef shark while spearfishing in Fiji. He was filming at the time, and the clip shows the alarming moment the shark suddenly swims straight at Henry and bites him. Henry, from New Zealand, required four surgeries and a skin graft.

Writing on Instagram on the days following the incident, he said he recognised he had made mistakes. "I was in its environment hunting its food," he wrote. "Wrong place, wrong time, and there are definitely a few lessons I'll share when I post the footage in the hope it helps someone avoid ending up in the same situation and a bit on how to respond to it. For now, just feeling very lucky and with an even greater appreciation for life."

He continued: "It's possible the commotion from the boat, the sounds of our spearguns, and the activity in the water gradually made this shark more interested or excited. I'll never know exactly what caused the change, but eventually it started making tight semicircles beneath us, became increasingly agitated and even sprinted at the boat.

"Looking back, that should've been enough of a sign to call the dive. I never thought a shark of that size posed much of a threat, and that was a mistake."

What do experts say?

Eric Clua, a marine biologist at the cole Pratique des Hautes tudes in Paris, told MailOnline research into the motivations behind shark bites has shown the number of incidents caused by people getting too close to the creatures is on the rise. He said he was concerned social media videos are causing people to believe there is no risk associated with getting close to sharks.

"The message transmitted by influencers is 'Look! Touch the shark, nothing will happen to you'," he said.

Sharkproject, an organisation working to protect populations of the creatures around the world, warns swimmers never to "touch, harass, or attract a shark". It adds: "Be aware of the three-dimensional space around you and look around regularly. Should a shark be a little more curious, always keep calm, turn with it and stay upright in the water. Avoid unnecessary and hectic movements.

"Always stay with your group and dont swim away alone. Dont lose the overview when taking photos and videos."

It adds: "Even if all these tips are followed, the risk can of course never be ruled out 100 per cent. Sharks are wild predators and can be dangerous to humans in certain situations and regions. Fortunately, as a 'normal' holidaymaker, snorkeler or swimmer, such a situation is extremely rare and the risk of a shark accident is negligible."

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