As if you needed another reason besides the absurd heat to check out our map of Cape & Islands swimming pools, two great white sharks have recently been spotted off the coast of Cape Cod. While the bear was a novelty, as was the Beluga Whale, the sharks apparently visit often enough that scientists aren't that impressed (are they ever?). According to Greg Skomal, a senior biologist at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the great white sharks are nothing to worry about, "Sharks are not there to feed on people; they're there to feed on seals." Umm, we saw "Soul Surfer," or at least we mean to if home sick one day and are unable to reach the remote, so we're not so sure about sharks not wanting to snack on humans.
Moving on, apparently protecting gray seals is what has led to the influx of great white sharks. Their population has grown from 10,000 to over 300,000 since protections were put in place in 2008. How many pups do they give birth to at once? We're too lazy to google. Regardless, have no fear, the Cape won't become restaurant row for great white sharks. According Mr. Skomal, "They eat one seal; it lasts them for two months. It's not like they need three square meals a day." Good news for everyone but that seal.
Finally, if you're like us and were wondering how scientists know Jaws is in the hood, it turns out they've been tracking them since 2009. The sharks were tagged while swimming in shallow water, which is somehow not very comforting news. Anyway, animal rights activists can chill cause the tagging was no biggie, "It's kind of equivalent to getting your ear pierced," he said. "It doesn't have a lot of nerves or blood vessels, but there's lots of cartilage." If anyone snaps a photo of either of these sharks with pierced ears, please forward to the tipline.
· Hot Enough For Ya? Here's A Map Of Cape And Islands Pools [Curbed Cape Cod]
· Better Than A Zoo [Curbed Cape Cod]
· Whale Watch [Curbed Cape Cod]
· Great White Sharks Spotted Off Australia, Cape Cod [ABC]
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