The passengers of a whale-watching tour in New Zealand were startled when a shark suddenly jumped out of the water, mimicking the movements of a dolphin. One member of the tour was able to capture the moment on camera. Andrew Williams was on tour, which took place on December 22nd, and went to Waiheke Island, where bronze whaler sharks had been seen. The group was excited to see the sharks closely as they were swimming near a small fishing boat.
Williams had his phone ready, unsure of what he would be capturing. But all of a sudden, one of the sharks made a sudden leap out of the water, and everyone on board the tour inhaled sharply, "And I quickly took the picture" He was surprised when he later looked at his phone; he had managed to photograph the shark while it was in mid-air.
Capturing the Leaping
Williams said the crew members on tour were marine scientists and had never witnessed anything like this before. Some passengers on the boat initially believed it to be a dolphin, as reported by Stuff New Zealand.
Although sharks occasionally leap out of the water to catch their prey, this behavior is most commonly associated with Great White Sharks. But it is not often caught on camera as it happens without warning. According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the bronze whaler shark is one of the largest reef shark species and also one of the most abundant large shark species in the coastal waters of New Zealand.
The NIWA website also states that "Bronze Whaler Sharks are not typically aggressive towards humans. However, there have been instances where over-excited sharks have bitten spearfishers. These sharks are opportunistic eaters, meaning they consume both live and dead animals".
Bronze Shark in Nature
In addition to capturing the shark breaching, Williams also had the luck of seeing two Bryde whales from a distance and two groups of dolphins. When asked for advice on capturing a similar shot, Williams stated that his photo was a complete accident. However, he did mention that he had the patience to keep his camera trained on the fishing boat for a prolonged period, as he felt something interesting might happen.
Bronze whaler sharks have a highly developed sense of perception and are skilled at understanding and taking advantage of their surroundings. According to Malcolm Francis, "they excel in choice experiments" and can locate prey at specific times of the year. Despite not being generally aggressive towards people, some spearfishers have been bitten by these sharks. They are opportunistic eaters and will consume both live and dead animals.
They mostly prey on small schools of fish, such as kahawai. Malcolm Francis advises, "Sharks have a lateral line sense which can detect vibrations in the water. If you're in the water and encounter a shark, remain calm and avoid thrashing about, as it is unlikely that a shark will bite you." The visibility of the water likely limits their eyesight, but they may be able to see as far as humans underwater. Bronze whaler sharks are often found in pairs or small groups and are more commonly sighted during the summer as they move into warmer waters to pursue fish or give birth.
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