UNE Marine Science graduate pens piece about experience on ‘Shark Week’
Carolyn Wheeler ’15 wrote an opinion editorial for the Bangor Daily News titled, “I swim with sharks. That’s how I know we’re the dangerous ones.” The piece describes her experience doing research on tiger sharks in the Bahamas, which was documented in “Tiger Beach,” the premiere episode of popular the Discovery Channel series Shark Week which also featured Professor James Sulikowski, Ph.D.
In the article, Wheeler discussed the need for research on the reproductive behavior of sharks so their habitats can be protected. She also explained why it is so important to dispel the myth that sharks are blood-thirsty killers. “It is possible to dive with sharks safely, partially because of their combination of keen senses. Sharks can identify from smell and sight that a diver is not a fish; therefore, they’re unlikely to be interested enough to even come close. When sharks do bite humans, it’s accidental. Of course, sharks are a predator and demand our respect when diving and researching. However, peaceful interactions help us show that sharks pose little threat to humans.”
To learn more about the University of New England’s Department of Marine Sciences visit www.une.edu/cas/marine
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