Job Discussion Forums

[john_n_carolina]

...obviously, this has very little to do with ESL. but, i figured it was important to notify any ESL teachers or Cafe visitors in that particular area. because, the most recent person attacked had no idea someone was fatally attacked only 2 days before.

3 shark attacks have Mexico resort area in panic By ALEXANDRA OLSON, Associated Press Writer
Wed May 28, 7:01 PM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080528/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/mexico_shark_attacks


ZIHUATANEJO, Mexico - No one could even remember a shark attack along this resort-studded stretch of Mexican coast popular with surfers and Hollywood's elite. Many of the large predators had been pulled from the ocean by fishermen. So when sharks attacked three surfers in less than a month, two fatally, it was unthinkable.

The latest attack came Saturday, when a shark chomped down on the arm of surfing enthusiast Bruce Grimes, an American expat who runs a surf shop in Zihuatanejo.

[skc1957]

Great! Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water!

[hlamb]

As one article said, you'rei n more danger from traffici n Mexico, or bad food or water, than you are from sharks. I'm not saying don't be careful, but this is getting blown way out of proportion.

[john_n_carolina]

[Mrs L]

Or it could just be the same shark who's very hungy at the moment!!

Don't things like this happen because of over-fishing so the sharks have to come closer to shore looking for food? Also all the attacks were on surfers who go much further out than your average swimmer and tend to catch the best waves and dusk and dawn- prime shark feeding time. They also look like seals from underneath because of the shapes of their boards.

How sad that numerous innocent sharks are now being slaughtered because of these attacks (if you believe what the papers say).

[lozwich]

Usually the sharks that attack are relatively small (only 4 or 5 metres ) teenage sharks who don't know the difference between a tasty seal and a skinny, not-so-tasty human.. They tend to bite down, discover its not a nice fat-laden seal and spit the yucky human out. Problem is, the human very often doesn't survive.

There was recently a case like this off the coast of Western Australia, where the same shark was attacking people. The authorities managed to shepherd it out to sea and the problem was solved. Sharks are now protected in Australian waters, otherwise, like in the past, it would have been killed. Hopefully the Mexicans will be able to do the same with this one - shepherd it away I mean, not kill it...

[Mrs L]

It was Australia I was thinking of when I said that, remember hearing about the same shark attacking a few people and other stories when I was travelling over there. They do seem to have a really positive attitude to sharks, I guess Mexico just wasn't expecting this but if it continues they may form a better policy for the future.
When I read about the first attack in the newspaper my husband didn't believe me because he thinks Mexico doesn't have sharks Surely it's the same ocean??

[lozwich]