When life hands you lemon sharks

(Photo by Albert Kok)

Those who have seen Jaws might view most sharks as a threat to humans.  With lemon sharks, it’s been the other way around.

Lemon sharks rarely attack people, but people often attack them.  Wikipedia explains that they “are targeted by commercial and recreational fisherman along the U.S. Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, and in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.”  Their “meat, fins and skin” have been coveted by many.

Nevertheless, pockets of compassion still remain.  While suffering the effects of a metal hook stuck in its belly, a lemon shark sought help from a nearby human diver.  After several attempts, this diver was able to extract the hook.  The shark, along with several others, then swam circles around the diver several times, as though to express gratitude.

Compassion is needed in order to preserve Earth’s ecological balance.  Samuel Gruber’s extensive research has shown that lemon sharks are disappearing at an alarming rate.  "Overfishing" and the “destruction of mangroves” have devastated populations of  these highly intelligent mammals.

Resources

http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/downtime/watch-injured-shark-ask-divers-for-help/vi-BByIw3X?ocid=BHEA000 

Copyright March 27, 2017 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved