Key Points from Shark Cage Experiment

Objective

• Test the hypothesis on how sharks react to different types of blood (human vs. fish) to set up a shark feeding frenzy in a shark cage environment.

Background

• Previous experiment conducted a year ago where 15 drops of human blood per minute attracted few sharks, debunking the myth that sharks are frenzied by human blood.

Preparations

• Collaborated with Discovery for Shark Week.
• Had to delay the project due to a COVID-19 positive test.
• Found a loophole to travel to The Bahamas via private jet.

Experiment Setup

• Blood Types Tested: Used cow's blood and fish blood due to legal and logistical constraints of obtaining human blood.
• Method:
  • Deployed three surfboards: one with cow blood, one with fish blood, and a control with seawater.
  • Pumped blood from the boards to observe shark behavior.

Results

• The fish blood smoothie board had 134 shark approaches.
• Mammal blood board had 8 shark approaches.
• Control board had zero approaches.

Conclusion

• Sharks are significantly more attracted to fish blood than mammal blood, aligning with evolutionary instincts favoring fish as prey.

Final Experiment - Cage Dive

• Designed a specialized shark cage for personal protection during a shark feeding frenzy.
• Used chainmail and lead weights for safety during the dive.
• Deployed fish blood while in the cage to observe shark behavior up close.
• Realized the danger when sharks attempted to enter the cage, setting up an intense scenario.

Insights

• The experiment reinforced that sharks' instincts are fine-tuned for typical prey (fish), not mammals like humans or cows.
• Personal takeaway: experiencing life as prey offers a profound understanding of ocean ecosystems and shark behavior.

Reflective Note

• Acknowledged the experience from a predator-prey perspective, providing a unique insight into the life of marine prey like tuna fish.