The Shark Whisperer February 24, 2008
Posted by Michael in Science.trackback
This image shows why Mike Rutzen has been given the nickname Sharkman.The South African has learned ‘tonic immobility’, a natural state of paralysis, which animals sometimes enter when faced with an imminent threat.
He induces the state in sharks by turning them on their head and massaging their snout, close to their eyes. The paralysis lasts 15 minutes.
Rutzen is an expert on the great white shark and an outspoken champion of shark conservation.
Thanks again to Lauraw.
If he was juggling three of them I might be impressed.
Completely retarded but fucking hilarious to me:
Spiders on Drugs.
And this is quite amusing: Spring Break mistake.
So, when the shark wakes up, does he bite off his arm?
Anyone else picturing the guy who thought he could commune with grizzly bears?
I thought sharks had to keep moving in the water to breathe.
If that is true, this guy is just tickling them until they drown.
Which is even cooler.
[…] (image via: Innocent Bystanders) […]
This image has been incorrectly credited. The diver in this photo is Christina Zenato, an Italian professional diver who luves in the Bahamas. I know because I just came from her presentation on workin with sharks in New York City tonight.
Oops, “luves” = “lives”.
I’ve worked with a few sharks in New York City too.