White Shark Sightings On The Rise On East Coast : NPR.

From NPR, I’m Ira Flatow.

Over the last few years, there have been more and more confirmed shark sightings at beaches on the East Coast, and this summer is no exception. Just last week, lifeguards closed part of Rockaway Beach, that’s here in Brooklyn, after surfers spotted a shark.

Further north, officials closed a remote beach in Cape Cod when a spotter of planes saw not one, not two but at least three great white sharks lurking near the shore a couple weeks ago. No one’s been allowed in the water since then.

And then just yesterday, Cape Cod’s Chatham Harbor was closed to swimming due to the sighting of a 14-foot great white shark. Scary, huh?

But before you call in Quint and his too-small shark boat in “Jaws,” to put this in perspective, there hasn’t been a fatal shark attack in New England since way back in 1936. So why are we spotting so many more great whites today?

Is their population growing, or are we just more paranoid and getting better at spotting them? Here to sort out some of the facts from fiction is my guest. Greg Skomal is a senior biologist at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He joins us by phone. Welcome to SCIENCE FRIDAY, Dr. Skomal.

Dr. GREG SKOMAL (Senior Biologist Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries): Thank you, Ira. It’s good to be here.

FLATOW: Good, thank you. Are there more sharks these days, or are we seeing more of them?

Dr. SKOMAL: I think it’s a function, it’s a number of variables we’re dealing with here, and it’s hard for us to really tell if there’s more sharks or just simply more effort.

Certainly, a lot of the sightings along the East Coast of the United States have to do with more people utilizing the shoreline, utilizing the water for various recreational activities and otherwise.

But in think in some areas, specifically off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts and Monomoy Island, we are indeed seeing more white sharks. And I think what we’re seeing is a shift in distribution of the white shark in that particular area.

FLATOW: And what is attracting them to that area?

Dr. SKOMAL: Over the course of the last couple of decades, we’ve been seeing a steady increase in the number of gray seals and a growing gray seal, resident gray seal population in that area. I believe it’s drawing these sharks closer to shore.

FLATOW: And why would we be seeing more gray seals now?

Dr. SKOMAL: Well, back in the early ’70s, we passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and it’s taken the last few decades for this population to actually recover to levels that pre-existed before we eradicated the species over the course of the last several decades. So we’ve got a growing population in response to protection by the U.S. and state governments.

FLATOW: So I guess what you’re saying is that we’re seeing a restoration of this coastal ecosystem to the way it used to be.

Dr. SKOMAL: Exactly, at least that’s the way we perceive it at this time. You know, we could be going back to what existed several hundred years ago, with a robust seal population being preyed upon by a robust white shark population.

FLATOW: 1-800-989-8255. We’re talking to Greg Skomal about the sightings of great white sharks along the East Coast. Maybe if you’ve seen one, you’d like to call in and talk about it. You can also Twitter us, send us a tweet @scifri, @-S-C-I-F-R-I. Or join the discussion on our website, on sciencefriday.com.

You, what do we you know, aside from watching “Jaws” and all the scary movies about sharks and Shark Week on cable channels everywhere, how much do we really know about white shark populations?

Dr. SKOMAL: Well, there are certain parts of the world where you can predictably find white sharks. And these areas, which include, you know, the Pacific Coast, California, parts of South Africa and South Australia – these are areas where scientists have had the luxury, if you will, of going out and studying these animals at great levels.

And we’ve been able to garner quite a bit about their biology in those areas, I think. One of the spots that we know very little about the white shark is the Atlantic Ocean. And perhaps, this change in ecosystem that we’re going through up here in New England, may begin to provide us some access to these animals so we can start to tease away some aspects of their biology.

FLATOW: And you are involved in tagging sharks, are you not?

Dr. SKOMAL: Correct, correct. Yeah, last year we had a chance, for the first time, to put satellite-based technology tags on white sharks in this area, and we are already getting insights into their biology from those tags.

And already this year, we’ve placed four tags out, and we hope to be able to continue to do that over the course of the next month.

FLATOW: How do you get, you know, how do you know when it is time to reopen these beaches that have been closed?

Dr. SKOMAL: Well, you know, the local municipalities are in charge of those beaches, and all we can do at the Division of Marine Fisheries is provide information to those folks who are making these decisions.

You know, we’d like to provide real-time information on the presence of sharks as acquired through our research activities so they can make well-founded decisions on opening and closing beaches.

FLATOW: What are the odds of getting bitten by a shark?

Dr. SKOMAL: Well, you yourself indicated that the last fatal attack in Massachusetts was back in the 1930s. So that gives you a sense of what the probability is. That being said, I think it’s important to realize when you place people in close proximity to the prey of sharks, namely gray seals, you could potentially increase the risk modestly.

So I think it’s important for people to make wise decisions when getting in the water and choose areas that may be free of white shark prey.

FLATOW: Henry(ph) in Aurora, Illinois. Hi, welcome to SCIENCE FRIDAY.

HENRY (Caller): Hello there. Being landlocked, I just have an idea that possibly, there’s less fish out there for the sharks to feed on because you could ask any fishermen why are they still in port. And the sharks will wander farther around, looking for food. That’s my idea. Thank you.

FLATOW: You’re welcome.

Dr. SKOMAL: Well, I’ll tell you, that’s an interesting point, and it points to fisheries management and population management and the importance of looking at bait species and to find relationships between sharks and their prey and whether or not we’re, you know, overexploiting their prey and forcing sharks to other areas to exploit other resources.

That being said, I think it’s well-defined, the behavior of the white shark, when it comes to feeding, these animals are clearly going through, clearly prefer larger prey, namely marine mammals and specifically seals and sea lions.

So I think what we have going on off the coast of New England is actually just a national predator-prey relationship and not anything exacerbated, perhaps, by humans.

FLATOW: Let’s go to Roy(ph) in Sumter, South Carolina. Hi, Roy.

ROY (Caller): Hi, thank you so much for taking the call and specifically on this topic. It’s always been an interest. I’ve been recreational fishing in the Atlantic for 30 years. And over the last three or four years, we’ve noticed a tremendous increase in the number of small sharks that we’re catching.

It used to be something, we may catch one shark every two or three trips, and now we probably catch 10 sharks every trip. These we refer to them as bonnetheads. I dont know if that’s an accurate terminology, about a three, three-and-a-half-foot long shark, always catch them on the bottom, never catch them trawling. And I’ll take my answer off the air, but again, thank you so much for this topic.

FLATOW: All right. Could there be many big sharks because there are a lot more little sharks now?

Dr. SKOMAL: Well, you know, the bonnethead is indeed a species. It’s considered to be a healthy population off the Southeastern U.S., according to the fisheries’ statisticians. It’s not a fish that’s heavily exploited commercially, although it is sold in some numbers, and recreational fishermen like to catch it, as well.

You know, there are some folks who believe – some scientists who believe that with the removal of very, very large sharks that consume these smaller sharks, we’re seeing more species, you know, more smaller sharks out there. That may be the case, although it hasn’t been clearly demonstrated by scientists.

So it’s an area where there is quite a bit of work, but we have no real conclusions yet.

FLATOW: Have sharks been over hunted?

Dr. SKOMAL: In certain parts of the world with certain populations, absolutely. We have enough information on, for example, the dusky shark to indicate that that population off the Eastern U.S. has been overexploited and reduced dramatically.

The same is true for the sandbar shark. For other populations of sharks, they continue to be robust, and I think the bonnethead falls into that.

FLATOW: All right, let me go to Mark(ph) in New Britain, Connecticut. Hi, Mark.

MARK (Caller): Hi, thanks for taking my call. As you said, I’m in Connecticut, and I’ve noticed changes in the water temperature of Long Island Sound. It’s been creeping up, year over year, and I’m wondering if the climatic changes, increases in ocean temperature, are a possible source of increased activity.

FLATOW: Good question.

Dr. SKOMAL: Yes, an excellent question, one we anticipate a lot of research trying to answer over the course of the next decade. We know that with climate change and global warming, we’re going to see changes in the structure of fish populations in terms of the diversity of species, with a shift north of tropical species.

And it has been demonstrated for some, already. I imagine with warming water temperatures in Long Island Sound, you’re going to see a change in the fish diversity in that body of water, as well.

So, you know, it’s an area that we’re going into. We anticipate changes, and some of them have been documented. In terms of sharks, we haven’t seen any kind of dramatic shift as of yet, but some of the species that typically occur south of Cape Cod and not north, have indeed been starting to creep around the Cape. So we’re starting to see some indications that the fish populations, including sharks, are changing.

FLATOW: Steve(ph) in Cambridge, Mass. Hi, Steve.

STEVE (Caller): Hey, how are you doing? Thanks for taking the call. Great show. I think the shark thing is just a bunch of media hype, frankly. I mean, it just, you know, it makes people tune into the news shows, and I’m not sure there’s any more or less. I just think the sightings are more – maybe because there’s more fishermen out there.

But I was wondering if you might know why there’s a lot more jellyfish in the bay this year.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Dr. SKOMAL: Well, you bring up a couple of excellent points, and a lot of the shark phenomenon, or shark frenzy, if you will, is driven by the media – and it’s something we have to deal with all the time.

I can tell you that some of the shark sightings data absolutely indicate a shift that’s going on over with white sharks, and some of it’s just generated by a media frenzy. Somebody sees a fin, it may not be a shark fin, but it gets reported as such, and that just compounds upon itself.

I wish I could be of more help with you with jellyfish. I’ve been hearing a lot of folks complain about jellyfish in the bay over the last several weeks, but unfortunately, I study things a lot bigger.

FLATOW: All right, we’ll have to take a look at that, with some jellyfish folks, on a future program. But I want to thank you for taking time to be with us today.

Dr. SKOMAL: Oh, my pleasure. It’s great to be here.

FLATOW: Have a good weekend.

Dr. SKOMAL: Yes, you, too.

FLATOW: Greg Skomal is a senior biologist in the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in New Bedford, Mass., and he was joining us by phone from there.

When we come back, we’re going to switch to electric cars, plug-ins. Do you want a plug-in? How about a Chevy Volt or a Nissan Leaf? We’re going to compare the two. Maybe you could talk to us about what you’d like to see the perfect plug-in to be. What would you are these two cars the kind you might purchase? If not, what do you want to have?

Our number, 1-800-989-8255. You can tweet us @scifri, @-S-C-I-F-R-I, or go to our website at sciencefriday.com, where you can chat around with some folks that way.

So stay with us. We’ll be right back after the break.

(Soundbite of music)

FLATOW: I’m Ira Flatow. This is SCIENCE FRIDAY from NPR.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Australian tourist thinks it was an eagle that dive-bombed him as he was walking alone in Cooper Landing, about 100 miles south of Anchorage.

Brian Hard told The Anchorage Daily News a large bird swooped down Monday afternoon.

“It was a beautiful day and I was quite content, when all of a sudden I had this sensation of eagle grabbing on, sinking a talon into my head,” he said. “When it hit me, I kind of ducked down and its trajectory took it back up. I sort of looked up and its wings were spread; I had the sensation of being shaded. Looked like a young eagle to me.”

Hard says he feared a second attack before he made it about 100 yards to the home where he is staying.

“Skin was actually raised off my scalp,” he said. “I felt the bleeding.”

The visitor from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland wonders if he was mistaken for prey.

“Somebody suggested I kind of looked like a rabbit from the sky,” said Hard, who wears his gray hair in a ponytail. “I can sort of understand why it happened to me.”

Fish and Wildlife Service raptor export Phil Schempf in Juneau thinks the bird was a goshawk, which is more likely than an eagle to attack people close to their nests.

“Eagles tend to be pretty wimpy. I can count on one finger the number of eagle attacks I've seen,” he said. “I wonder if he was mixing up his birds and it was a goshawk. In your face, a goshawk looks pretty big.”

via Raptor attacks Australian tourist in Alaska: AP Alaska | adn.com.

It is really hard to tell which animal is the most poisonous in the world. The one that has the most toxic chemicals? The one that kills the biggest amount of people a year? Or maybe the one with the biggest amount of poison?

First of all, I have to admit that the title is a bit incorrect, because there is a difference between poisonous and venomous animals. A poisonous animal carries harmful chemicals called toxins primarily used for self defense. Therefore venomous animals deliver their toxins by stinging, stabbing, or biting. So poisonous animals are passive killers, while venomous animals are active killers.

Nevertheless, theory aside, they are all really dangerous. So look really closely at each photo, cause next time you meet them can be the last thing you ever see.

1. Box Jellyfish

The top prize for “The World Most Venomous Animal,” would go to the Box Jellyfish. It has caused at least 5,567 recorded deaths since 1954. Their venom is among the most deadly in the world. It’s toxins attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. And the worst part of it is that jelly box venom is so overpoweringly painful, that human victims go in shock, drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors experience pain weeks after the contact with box jellies.

You have virtually no chance to survive the venomous sting, unless treated immediately. After a sting, vinegar should be applied for a minimum of 30 seconds. Vinegar has acetic acid, which disables the box jelly’s nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain). Wearing panty hose while swimming is also a good prevention measure since it can prevent jellies from being able to harm your legs.

Jelly box can be found in the waters around Asia and Australia.

2. King Cobra

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake – growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length. Ophiophagus, literally means “snake-eater” as it eats other snakes. One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human. This snake is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

It’s venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.

3. Marbled Cone Snail

This little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any other animal on this list. One drop of its venom is so powerful that it can kill more than 20 humans. If you ever happen to be in warm salt water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, don’t even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom is to catch its prey.

Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. It results in intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure. There is no antivenom. However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

4. Blue-Ringed Octopus

The Blue-Ringed Octopus is very small, only the size of a golf ball, but its venom is so powerful that can kill a human. Actually it carries enough poison to kill 26 adult humans within minutes, and there is no antidote. They are currently recognized as one of the world’s most venomous animals.

Its painless bite may seem harmless, but the deadly neurotoxins begin working immediately resulting in muscular weakness, numbness, followed by a cessation and breathing and ultimately death.

They can be found in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia.

5. Death Stalker Scorpion

Contrarily to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy, adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition) are at the biggest risk.

Death stalker scorpions are spread in North Africa and Middle East.

6. Stonefish

Maybe Stonefish would never win a beauty contest, but it would definitely win the top prize for being “The World Most Venomous Fish”. Its venom causes such a severe pain that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated. It is described as the worst pain known to man. It is accompanied with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death. If not given medical attention within a couple of hours It can be fatal to humans.

Stonefish stores its toxins in gruesome-looking spines that are designed to hurt would-be predators.

Stonefish mostly live above the tropic of Capricorn, often found in the shallow tropical marine waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to the Queensland Great Barrier Reef.

7. The Brazilian wandering spider

The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider appears in the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 for the most venomous spider and is the spider responsible for most human deaths.

This spider is believed to have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only 0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse. They are also so dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and cars.

Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause priapism – uncomfortable erections lasting for many hours that lead to impotence.

8. Inland Taipan

The prize for “The World’s Most Venomous Snake” goes to the Inland Taipan of Australia. Just a single bite from this snake contains enough venom to kill 100 human adults or an army of 250,000 mice. Its venom is at least 200 – 400 times more toxic than a common cobra. The Inland Taiwan’s extremely neurotoxic venom can kill an adult human in as little as 45 minutes. Fortunately this snake is very shy and there have been no documented human fatalities (all known bites were treated with antivenin).

9. Poison Dart Frog

If you ever happen to be running through the rain forests somewhere in Central or South America, do not ever pick up beautiful and colorful frogs – it can be the Poison Dart Frog. This frog is probably the most poisonous animal on earth.The 2 inch long (5cm) golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 adult humans or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of this lethal toxin (the amount that fits on the head of a pin) is capable of killing a human or other large mammal. They are called “dart frogs” because indigenous Amerindians’ use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of their blow-darts. Poison dart frogs keep their poison in their skins and will sicken or kill anybody who touches or eats it.

10. Puffer Fish

Puffer Fish are the second most poisonous vertebrate on earth (the first one is golden dart Frog). The meat of some species is a delicacy in both Japan (as fugu) and Korea (as bok-uh) but the problem is that the skin and certain organs of many puffer fish are very poisonous to humans.

This puffy fish produce rapid and violent death..Puffer’s poisoning causes deadening of the tongue and lips, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, and muscle paralysis. Victims die from suffocation as diaphragm muscles are paralyzed. Most of the victims die after four to 24 hours. There is no known antidote, Most deaths from fugu happen when untrained people catch and prepare the fish.

Statistics show that there were 20 to 44 incidents of fugu poisoning per year between 1996 and 2006 in all of Japan and up to six incidents per year led to death. Since Fugu’s poison can cause near instantaneous death, only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it.

via The World`s Biggests: 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World.

SYDNEY — An Australian surfer fought off a large shark and then rode a wave to safety, reports said on Monday.

Michael Bedford was knocked off his board by the shark, believed to be a great white of “Jaws” fame, which then came back for a second charge, witnesses were quoted as saying.

But he punched the animal and then caught a passing wave to the shore, where friends used the board's rope as a tourniquet for bite wounds on his leg.

“He gave it a good whack he reckons, a good punch and that doesn't surprise me knowing Mick,” said witness Lee Cummuskey, according to public broadcaster ABC.

“It is your worst nightmare and Mick's been through it and survived so he's just really lucky.”

Bedford had surgery after Sunday's attack near Albany, south of Perth, and his condition was described as stable. Australia suffers several shark attacks each year, with 194 people killed over the past two centuries, records show.

via AFP: Aussie man punches shark, surfs to safety.

A man who witnessed a shark attack on a surfer off Western Australia's south coast says the victim is extremely fortunate to have survived.

Michael Bedford was surfing 150 metres offshore at Conspicuous Cliff beach near Walpole yesterday when he was attacked.

The shark, believed to be a white pointer, knocked him off his board before coming back to charge him a second time.

Mr Bedford managed to scramble onto his board before a well-timed wave pushed him into shore.

His friend, Lee Cummuskey and others, used his surfboard to carry him along the beach and up a cliff to a carpark to wait for an ambulance.

They then used his leg-rope as a tourniquet to try to stem the loss of blood from a deep gash to his right knee.

Mr Cummuskey says Mr Bedford is lucky to have survived.

“Just the fact that there was people on the beach to help us, and yeah, it didn't hit an artery so he didn't lose a lot of blood, I think that was really critical too,” he said.

He says it appears the shark was a white pointer.

“It did have a big white gut on it and he gave it a good whack he reckons, a good punch and that doesn't surprise me knowing Mick,” he said.

“It is, I don't know what to say, it is your worst nightmare and Mick's been through it and survived so he's just really lucky.”

Mr Bedford underwent surgery in Albany Regional Hospital last night where his condition is listed as stable.

via Surfer recovering after shark attack – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

A man has been attacked by a shark at a remote beach near Walpole this afternoon.

It is understood that the man was surfing at Conspicuous Cliffs just after noon when he was knocked off his board and bitten by the shark. It is believed that the man suffered serious injuries to one of his knees. He was taken by ambulance from the beach and is expected to be taken to Albany Hospital.

via Shark attack in Walpole – The West Australian.

Link

A professional fisherman has been attacked by a crocodile while fishing in the Northern Territory.

The 45-year-old man was in the water when he was attacked off the Cobourg Peninsula in Arnhem Land, near Black Point, about 200 kilometres north east of Darwin.

Police said the fisherman was collecting trepang in the water just after noon when the crocodile attacked.

He has suffered injuries to his head and shoulders but they are not life-threatening.

The crocodile is believed to be two to three metres long.

The attack was reported to police and officers from Croker Island rushed to the scene via boat.

The man arrived in a CareFlight helicopter at the Royal Darwin Hospital just after 4:45pm.

He was taken on a stretcher and his head was heavily bandaged along with his right foot.

He was also wearing an oxygen mask and connected to other life-support equipment, with his right hand resting on his forehead.

Cobourg Peninsula senior district ranger Peter Fitzgerald said his officers were contacted about the incident and organised the fisherman’s emergency flight to Darwin.

Mr Fitzgerald said the fisherman was diving in deep water when he was attacked.

“He was attacked by a crocodile a bit over two metres,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“He had gone into the water looking for trepang and his companions got him out of the water, but unfortunately he was bitten a couple of times by this crocodile before they could get him back into the boat again.

“Generally (the fishermen) go in two or three at a time, keeping a lookout for each other, and unfortunately this person was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

He said the area was known for its high crocodile population.

“That whole Top End of the Territory you have got to be aware of crocodiles. Cobourg is no different to anywhere else. There’s a fair population of them in Cobourg,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Link

BRISBANE, Australia — A 60-year-old woman is in serious condition after being bitten by a shark off northeastern Australia and losing several pints (liters) of blood.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Community Services says the woman has severe lacerations to her buttocks from the Saturday afternoon attack.

She was being transported by dive boat from Dent Island in the Whitsunday Islands of Queensland state to the Australia mainland where she will be airlifted to a hospital, the spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to talk to the media.

No other information was immediately available.

It is the second shark attack in Australia this week. On Thursday, a man was bitten in the leg at a Sydney beach and was treated for minor injuries.

Link

Authorities are investigating a surfer’s claim that he was attacked by a shark on Sydney’s Northern Beaches this morning.

Paul Welsh, 46, told a newspaper he had to cling to a rock to fight off a shark that he said had latched itself onto his leg.

Mr Welsh allegedly emerged from the water with a gash to his left leg around 8:00am (AEDT) at the Mona Vale Basin.

A New South Wales Health spokesman says the man had already sold his story to Channel Nine News by the time his wife had driven him to hospital.

He says doctors at Mona Vale Hospital found a fragment of tooth in Mr Welsh’s leg and released him around midday.

An expert from the Primary Industries Department is due to examine the fragment this afternoon.

The beach remains closed and a helicopter was sent to the area to look for the alleged shark, but there was no sign of it.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan says efforts are being made to confirm the surfer’s story.

“We do need to confirm and see what type of shark it was or confirm that a shark was actually involved in the attack and if so, what type of shark it was,” he said.

“And that gives us a better opportunity to identify what might be around.”

The Manly Daily newspaper reported that it spoke to Mr Welsh minutes after the incident.

“I was pushing my son onto waves and it just belted me from behind,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

“I grabbed on to the pinnacle of a rock and held on as it tried to drag me out… and I won.”

Mr Welsh is now refusing to speak to any media except Channel Nine.

Police are helping the Primary Industries Department with its investigation. They initially told the media the man had been attacked by a four-foot shark.

Shark spotter Michael Brown earlier told the ABC he was in the water with his 13-year-old son when he saw “a whole lot of thrashing”.

“It’s launched straight up into him, knocked him out of the water and then latched onto his leg, and luckily, he had a chance to grab onto a rock and the shark’s actually thrashing, trying to drag him back into the water,” he said.

“He’s managed to release himself from the shark and crawl up onto the rocks and just had a big bite mark in his leg and blood just streaming out of it.”

Mr Brown said he believed the animal was a two-metre-long great white shark.

As the director of SurfWatch Australia, an organisation that patrols for sharks and charges people for helicopter joyrides, Mr Brown has been agitating against the State Government for greater protections against sharks.

After three attacks in Sydney last year, he accused the Government of ignoring an email that had warned of a sharp increase in shark numbers.

Link

10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World info and 10 Most Poisonous Animals Photo Gallery Pics

It is really hard to tell which animal is the most poisonous in the world. The one that has the most toxic chemicals? The one that kills the biggest amount of people a year? Or maybe the one with the biggest amount of poison?

First of all, I have to admit that the title is a bit incorrect, because there is a difference between poisonous and venomous animals. A poisonous animal carries harmful chemicals called toxins primarily used for self defense. Therefore venomous animals deliver their toxins by stinging, stabbing, or biting. So poisonous animals are passive killers, while venomous animals are active killers.

Nevertheless, theory aside, they are all really dangerous. So look really closely at each photo, cause next time you meet them can be the last thing you ever see.

1. Box Jellyfish : If the yardstick for measuring the deadliest of the worlds mot poisonous creatures is assumed to be the number of deaths that have been caused by them, then the Box Jellyfish definitely tops our list of worlds most poisonous creatures. This creature, which is just about the size of a palm, has reportedly caused deaths to almost 6000 people till date. This number is the highest recorded number in the world. This blue colored jellyfish has one of the most powerful, tantalizing and venomous stings in the world and it is found around the coastlines of South East Asia and Australia.

Box Jellyfish Pictures and Photos

2. King Cobra :

King Cobra

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake – growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length. Ophiophagus, literally means “snake-eater” as it eats other snakes. One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human. This snake is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

It’s venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.

3. Marbled Cone Snail

Marbled Cone Snail

This little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any other animal on this list. One drop of its venom is so powerful that it can kill more than 20 humans. If you ever happen to be in warm salt water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, dont even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom is to catch its prey.

Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. It results in intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure. There is no antivenom. However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

4. Blue-Ringed Octopus : The blue ringed Octopus was considered one of the worlds most poisonous sea creatures till some time back, until the Box Jellyfish took over. Nevertheless, this creature is till capable of killing up to 25 humans in one bite. Found in the Pacific pools from Japan to Australia, this creature’s bite is impalpable in most cases, but the venom starts working immediately on the muscles and heart- causing weakness, seizure and death within minutes.

Blue-Ringed Octopus

5. Death Stalker Scorpion :

Death Stalker Scorpion

Contrarily to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy, adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition) are at the biggest risk.

Death stalker scorpions are spread in North Africa and Middle East.
6. Stonefish : The stonefish is the worlds most poisonous fish, and probably the ugliest also. It is often remarked that when a stone fish attack a human being, the pain is so severe that the person wants to amputate the area affected. Its bit may not be lethal and can be treated within hours, but if left untreated for more than 2-3 hours, a bit from the stone fish can result into death for the human beings.

StoneFish

7. The Brazilian wandering spider :
The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider appears in the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 for the most venomous spider and is the spider responsible for most human deaths.

This spider is believed to have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only 0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse. They are also so dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and cars.

Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause priapism – uncomfortable erections lasting for many hours that lead to impotence.
The Brazilian wandering spider

8. Inland Taipan :

Inland Taipan

The inland Taipan is recognized as being the worlds most poisonous snake, having the capability to kill over a hundred human beings within 45 seconds from a single bite. Found in Australia, the Inland Taipan is definitely the one to beware of.

9. Poison Dart Frog :

Poison Dart Frog

Poison Dart Frog
The poison dart frog is another creature you might find cute if you found it in the wild but just touching this little guy can put you in harms way. Native to South and Central America, the frog got its name because indigenous tribes used to use the poison as an addition to their blow darts.

10. Puffer Fish : The puffer fish is a delicacy in many part of Japan and China, but some organs of the fish are deadly to the human beings- making it one of the worlds most poisonous and lethal animals. The poison of the fish is devastating for the one who consumes it and results in deadening of the muscles, increasing of the heart rate, dizziness, vomiting and permanent seizure within minutes of consuming the deadly poison.

The Puffer Fish

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VETERAN surfer Russell Specht has survived a terrifying face-to-face encounter with a monster great white shark stalking North Stradbroke Island.

The 52-year-old surfer, local lifesavers and island boardriders fear the huge man-eater was responsible for the horrifying shark-on-shark attack off the island, east of Brisbane, which The Sunday Mail featured in graphic photographs in late October.

The smaller 3m white pointer, snared on a baited drumline set off North Stradbroke’s busy Cylinder Beach, was almost bitten in half by the bigger shark.

Mr Specht, who has surfed for more than four decades on the island, said he and fellow surfers who were used to swimming with sharks had switched to predator alert.

“It was frightening. It was like a submarine heading towards me. I didn’t expect to live,” Mr Specht said.

He and several mates were surfing more than 100m off Main Beach when a younger boardrider shouted to them about the approaching monster.

“This thing came at me from behind. The other four guys with me, they took off to the beach and left me,” Mr Specht said.

“My first instinct was to paddle out to sea. Then I thought that this is not right, this is exactly what he wants me to do.”

Mr Specht bravely chose to sit quietly on his board and “eyeball” the shark – at least 4m long – as it came close enough to touch.

“He veered off, then he did a U-turn 10m away from me.

“I’m on a six foot three inch board. I’m thinking if he’s going to have a go at me he will eat me. But I thought you’re going to have to eat this board first,” Mr Specht said.

The champion surfer and Point Lookout Boardriders Club life member sat motionless on the board as the shark went directly under him, just 1m below, on its second pass.

Fellow surfers believe the same shark was hooked on a drum line off the beach later that day. The drumline “exploded” as the great white managed to free itself.

After spotting between 10 and 15 sharks off Main Beach in the past week, Mr Specht said he and other surfers were taking extra precautions and not surfing alone.

He said it was important to report his encounter just three weeks ago to warn holidaymakers that a dangerous great white shark was in local waters.

Surf Life Saving Queensland Gold Coast services co-ordinator Stuart Hogben, who has been on recent flights by the Westpac helicopter to North Stradbroke Island, supports Mr Specht’s suspicions about the great white being responsible for the attack on the other shark.

Mr Hogben saw several 2-3m sharks about 200-300m offshore along the island’s surf side during a flight last weekend. Other sightings were made off the Gold Coast.

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A MAN on the boat alleged to have left a shark attack victim without assistance said they did everything they could to help the 19-year-old.

In a statement made to the Gladstone water police, the man said “they were sick to the stomachs with concern for the young man’s safety” and “believe they had done everything they could possibly do under the circumstances”.

He told police that one of the family members aboard the 30ft vessel caught sight of the smaller fishing vessel whose occupants were frantically screaming that there had been a shark attack.

The trio of spearfishers asked the skipper on the boat for help, which the man said was immediately provided.

The skipper asked if they had radioed for help and was told that the small fishing vessel’s radio was not in working order.

The spearfishers yelled at the skipper to take the shark attack victim aboard but under the circumstances the skipper thought that it would not be in John Pengelly’s best interests to transfer the heavily bleeding man from one vessel to another as it would cause him unnecessary trauma and potentially make his injuries worse.

The skipper notified the authorities and advised the men to head to Heron Island.

The skipper immediately radioed VMR Gladstone advising them that there had been a shark attack and an emergency helicopter and paramedics were needed on Heron Island.

The man said the skipper remained in contact with authorities until the shark attack victim reached Heron Island and word was received that a helicopter had arrived.

The man said his family, who were on the boat, were distraught to hear that Mr Pengelly had implied they did nothing to help.

He said they were “under a lot of stress and had replayed the situation over and over in their heads and still believe…they did everything they humanly could for a small family on a family fishing outfit”.

“I’m just absolutely distraught,” he told The Observer.

“My dad is a skipper and he is absolutely gut-wrenched that this could happen after everything we did to help.”

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A central Queensland shark attack victim says a nearby charter boat refused to take him for help.

John Pengelly, 18, was spearfishing off the coast east of Rockhampton yesterday morning when a bull shark bit his arm.

He was taken by dingy to Heron Island, then to the Rockhampton Hospital before being flown to Brisbane for specialist treatment.

Mr Pengelly says he could have bled to death.

“After I got hit there was a much bigger and stable boat there that could’ve got me there a lot quicker – unfortunately they refused to help,” he said.

“They did manage to radio into Heron Island, which … did definitely help but we were a bit disappointed they couldn’t get me in quicker.”

Mr Pengelly is now in Brisbane’s Royal Brisbane Hospital and says he harbours no ill feeling toward the shark.

“We’re divers in their waters – if he wanted to eat me he would’ve,” he said.

“It was just an enquiry bite.

“Whether he was confused by the fish’s vibes that were given off or he’d been feeding on scraps getting thrown over the side by fishermen earlier, he was not there to eat me.”

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A spear fisherman says he has no hard feelings towards a bull shark that attacked him as he fished off Queensland’s coast at the weekend.

John Pengelly, 18, from Gladstone, was bitten on his forearm by a three-metre shark after he caught a fish with two friends on Lamont Reef, off Heron Island, on Sunday.

Mr Pengelly said he only caught a glimpse as the shark struck before his friends moved into action to stem the bleeding from the 20cm wound.

He was taken to Heron Island by friends before being flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for surgery and a blood transfusion.

But despite his injuries, the competitive free diver said he couldn’t wait to get back into the ocean.

‘We’re divers in their waters (and) if he wanted to eat me he would have,’ he told reporters at hospital on Monday.

‘It was just an inquiry bite … I’d be out today if I could.’

He said he would be more cautious in the future.

‘But I’ve swam with up to 10 at a time in previous weekends and they’ve never seemed to bother me,’ he said.

His parents said they were still behind their son’s sport despite the attack.

‘He knows the risks,’ his father, Graham Pengelly, said.

‘… This one was a kamikaze (shark) that came out of nowhere and they didn’t even see it coming.

‘It’s always the one that you don’t see that gets you.’

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GOLD Coast surfer Nigel Hughes escaped from a shark attack in known Great White territory near Evans Head with nothing but an injured big toe.

Mr Hughes was bitten by the shark while surfing at Coffee Rock, north of Evans Head, at 7am on Sunday.

The 39-year-old deputy principal of Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School was holidaying in Evans Head with friends and decided to head out with them for an early morning surf.

Just as he was pushing himself up to stand on his board he felt the shark strike.

“I looked back to see if my foot was there,” said Mr Hughes, speaking from the Lismore Base Hospital where he was waiting last night to have surgery on his foot.

The shark sliced through Mr Hughes’ big toe which was left partly hanging from his foot.

After the attack he was able to catch a wave in to the beach.

His friends then helped him walk 200m to a car.

Mr Hughes said he could not tell exactly how much blood he was losing because his friends tightly wrapped his foot in a towel before taking him to hospital.

As he waited for surgery last night he remained remarkably calm for someone who had just been bitten by a shark.

He even said the attack would make the holiday ‘memorable’, and that he would not hesitate to hit the waves again in the future.

“I’ll definitely be getting back in the water,” he said.

Mr Hughes said he did not see the shark so he was not willing to speculate about what type it might have been.

Evans Head man Mick McGilvray said the shark was most likely a bronze whaler or a bull shark.

Both are known man-eaters, but Mr McGilvray said the shark that bit Mr Hughes would have been no bigger than two metres.

Mr McGilvray said the spot where Mr Hughes was surfing had murky water which sharks loved.

“It’s definitely a sharky area,” he said.

Mr McGilvray, who operates a chartered fishing boat, said between five and 10 sharks were caught on that stretch of beach between Evans Head and Broadwater each year.

He said he caught two Great White sharks nearby three years ago.

Another tourist lost his leg to a shark bite while swimming at Evans Head in the late 1980s.

“Mr Hughes was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Mr McGilvray said.

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IT might be tempting to jump in that canal or river to cool off in the summer heat – but do not do so if you are averse to sharks.

Not even ocean nets will save you, with potentially dangerous bull sharks already living on the shore side of them.

That is the advice from Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast spokesman Byron Mills, who said bull sharks live in shallower water.

Mr Mills said from now until February the sharks move to rivers and canals to breed.

“They have been seen as far up Maroochy River as Bli Bli,” Mr Mills said.

But before you get your old Jaws tapes out, he said his words were a general warning, not a cause for panic.

“They are found in all rivers and canals which have ocean and fresh water, with open-water access,” he said.

“Bull sharks can adapt to both waters.”

Because the breeding season had started, it was timely to remind residents of the dangers of swimming or throwing a ball into the canal for their dog to chase, Mr Mills said.

“They (bull sharks) can go right up canals and rivers to breed,” he said.

“They move mostly at full moon or high tides, or when it has recently rained, as they prefer murky water.”

Dawn and dusk are also likely times for bull shark activity.

The Coast has not had a fatal shark attack for 50 years, and bull sharks did not have the power in their jaws to remove a human limb, Mr Mills said.

“But they are renowned for multiple biting. They are not very smart and if they bump into something they will bite it to see if it’s food, more than once.”

Therefore, blood loss is more likely than loss of limb.

“If they hit an artery, that’s a problem,” Mr Mills said.

Hammerhead sharks also feature in Coast rivers, especially Noosa River and canals, and were also dangerous, Mr Mills said.

It is thought there is one tiger shark in each five kilometres of water, he added.

His warning came as the state government released figures showing 57 sharks were caught in Sunshine Coast nets in the past year.

Council coastal and canal engineer Denis Shaw said while he had not seen sharks in canals in this time, it was not to say they were not there.

“I handle approvals for pontoons on canals and have been asked about installing fun-slides, but I would not recommend them,” he said.

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Sea rescue patrols are warning boats off the southern tip of South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula after a man was bitten by a shark this morning.

Witnesses say the 24-year-old man was part of a group spearfishing at Second Valley, south of Adelaide.

He sustained bites to his hand and ankle, but is conscious and talking to paramedics.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to a local medical centre at Yankalilla.

SA Ambulance says he is now being transferred to the Flinders Medical Centre.

Witnesses report there have been a number of shark sightings in the area during the past three weeks, including one estimated to have measured nearly six metres.

The shark, which attacked today, is thought to have only been about two metres long.

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A kayaker is lucky to be alive after being attacked by a four-metre great white shark in the ocean off Victoria’s south-west coast.

Rhys Gadsden was out for a morning paddle off Portland on Friday when he says a great white shark appeared from the deep and wrapped its jaws around his sea kayak, leaving giant puncture marks.

The 27-year-old was flipped off the kayak and spent a terrifying 15 minutes in the water by his kayak desperately hoping he would not be eaten alive.

‘‘I grabbed my oars, hit it in the head probably five to six times and it released it,’’ the Portland man told the Nine Network.

‘‘As soon as it released its bite it turned and headbutted me and knocked me over and put me in the water with it.

‘‘It was freaky being in the water, yeah, I didn’t know where it went, I didn’t know if it was going to come back.

‘‘I didn’t know what to do really, I didn’t want to splash around and make it come back.’’

Finally a nearby boat came to his rescue.‘‘It took me a while to calm down, I was shaking for hours after,’’ he said.

‘‘It was big, dark eyes, scary, evil, I never want to do that again.’’

Less than 24 hours after coming face to face with the great white, Mr Gadsden was brave enough to paddle out for a few metres into the water on Saturday for TV cameras.His friends have also nicknamed him ‘‘shark-bait’’.

Local surf life savers have conducted patrols of the harbour since the attack but have not spotted the shark.

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BRITISH diver Matt Bowen today told how he cheated death when a man-eating shark ripped his leg to shreds – by KICKING it with his other free foot.

Matt, 23, was exploring a shipwreck 100 feet below the surface off Western Australia when the terrifying attack happened.

A ten-foot bull shark – one of the world’s most dangerous – clamped its huge jaw on to his left leg.

Matt first thought it was female diving partner Alex McFadyen playing a prank on him until he turned to see the deadly shark staring back.

He frantically kicked out as the ferocious beast clung on to his calf, ripping the muscle and sending blood streaming into the water.

Canadian Alex bravely swam to his aid and also kicked the shark until it released its grip and turned tail.

Alex then grabbed Matt and quickly propelled them both to the surface where they waved to their dive boat to pick them up – fearing the creature would return for a second attack.

Matt, from Warrington, Cheshire, was rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to Perth for specialist treatment.

He underwent a series of skin grafts and was bedridden for two weeks as he recovered.

He then needed a further six weeks of intensive physio before he could walk properly again and has been left with a 10-inch long scar along his calf as a permanent reminder of the attack.

Matt, who was a gas engineer before setting off to travel the world, said: “It was scary but I was in so much shock at the time I barely even felt it to begin with.

“I got my diving qualification while I was in Australia and took the opportunity to dive whenever I could.

“You hear stories of shark attacks all the time, but usually when you see them they swim around for a while and ignore you.

Blood

“My buddy and I used to mess around all the time, grabbing each other by the legs and pretending it was a shark attack.

“So when I felt a tug on my leg, I initially thought it was her. It wasn’t really painful but it suddenly got a lot more vigorous and violent.

“I turned round to see what was going on and there was this three metre shark clinging on to me.

“I started kicking it as hard as I could to free my leg. I was aiming for the head but doing whatever I could to get it away from me.

“It would have gone for me again, but luckily I got my flippers in the way.

“My buddy pulled me away, kicking the shark at the same time.

“Eventually it turned round and swam away and we managed to get up to the surface.

“We waved to the dinghy to pick us up while Alex looked through the cloud of blood beneath us to see whether the shark was coming back.

“When I looked at my leg, all I could see was this bloody mess. Instead of a calf, all I could see was a hunk of shredded tissue and blood.

“The shock and adrenaline soon wore off and I was in a world of pain and slipping in and out of consciousness for a while.”

Despite his near-death experience Matt says he still plans to dive.

He added: “It definitely hasn’t put me off sharks or going in the sea.

“I’ve been told that the shark was a bull shark. They are aggressive but I now know they often hide their babies in wrecks, like the one where I was diving.

“That is probably why this one attacked me, to protect her babies from what she thought was a threat.”

Matt is now working at a surf school on the east coast of Australia and plans to visit New Zealand, Thailand and Canada before returning home.

He said: “After the attack I waited until I was a bit better before I phoned my mum.

“There was a lot of screaming of course. She was really worried and wanted me to come home, but I told her I would rather recover on a sunny beach and she understood.”

Bull sharks – Carcharhinus leucas in Latin – are one of the top four most dangerous shark species in the world.

They are unpredictable and aggressive and are normally found in shallow water which means they are responsible for the majority of shark attacks on humans that take place near the shore.

In India, bull sharks even cruise up the River Ganges where they have killed and attacked a large number of people.

A few weeks after the attack Matt bumped into Neighbours actor Alan Fletcher during a night out in Sydney and had his photo taken with him.

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Related Links

• Shark warning at Kommetjie
• Lifeguard killed in shark attack
• Suspected shark attack in KZN
• Shark bites SA angling coach
• Teen dies after shark attack

George – A 25-year-old man who was attacked by a shark while surfing at Glentana Bay has died, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Saturday.

“The victim was airlifted to a hospital in George in a critical condition where he was later declared dead after all efforts to save him were exhausted,” NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.

The man had been surfing with a friend at the bay between Glentana and Outeniqua, near Mossel Bay when the attack happened just after 15:30 on Saturday.

His friend brought him to shore.

Right leg bitten off

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, they found the man had already had his right leg amputated below the knee from a shark bite.

Paramedics and other emergency workers carried out resuscitation efforts.

The man was then taken to the George provincial hospital where he died.

“The family has been informed and are in close contact with the authorities.”

It is not yet known what species of shark was involved in the incident.

“The NSRI and the emergency services have expressed our deepest sympathies to the family of the victim.”

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Courageous!

August 17, 2009

Joanne Lucas’ bravery earned her the Star of Courage.

It was calm and still the day an Albany woman driven by instinct swam out to save the life of a fellow surf club member who had been attacked by a shark off Western Australia’s south coast.

Joanne Lucas’ bravery in doing so has earned her the Star of Courage, a bravery award which will presented by the Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

The 54-year-old mother of three had arrived at Middleton Beach, Albany, early on May 10 last year, ahead of a surf club event.

“It was very still and calm, and the sun was shining, and there were dolphins flipping about, a whole pod of dolphins …” Ms Lucas said.

But a short time later, a woman ran up the beach telling her a man had been attacked by a shark.

“I said: `No, no, it’s the dolphins’ and she said: `No it’s a shark’,” Ms Lucas said.

Ms Lucas said running down to the beach, driven by instinct and adrenalin, she stripped off her tracksuit pants and swam 80 metres to where fellow surf club member Jason Cull was critically injured, barely able to swim or tread water.

“It was a completely instinctive thing. I didn’t think: `There’s a shark out there maybe I shouldn’t go out there’,” she said.

“I just thought I’ve got to get this guy out and I’ve got to get him back in.”

All the while, the shark manoeuvred around the scene, with Ms Lucas fearing the frantic splashing of two nearby swimmers trying to scare it away would steer the shark toward her and Mr Cull.

She said she kicked harder and made it to shore where Mr Cull was treated for his injuries.

His leg was completely ripped open from his ankle right up to his knee and he had been “nipped” on the other knee, Ms Lucas said.

Ms Lucas said she was happy to see Mr Cull now back on his feet and cycling around the place.

Being awarded the star of courage was humbling, she said.

“I’m very honoured and humbled to receive this.”

Ms Lucas said she was quickly back on the beach after the attack.

“It hasn’t turned me off the ocean at all,” she said.

“I actually scan the ocean before I go in now …”

The governor-general is expected to present the star of courage to Ms Lucas at a ceremony early next year.

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Remember Arachnophobia?

Giant Spiders Invade Australian Outback Town

Two Australian spiders, with a coin for comparison; the tarantula on the right may be the same species as the ones invading Bowen.

Australia is known around the world for its large and deadly creepy-crawlies, but even locals have been shocked by the size of the giant venomous spiders that have invaded an Outback town in Queensland.

Scores of eastern tarantulas, which are known as “bird-eating spiders” and can grow larger than the palm of a man’s hand, have begun crawling out from gardens and venturing into public spaces in Bowen, a coastal town about 700 miles northwest of Brisbane.

Earlier this week locals spotted an Australian tarantula wandering towards a public garden in the center of town where people often sit for lunch. They called in a pest controller, but not before using a can of insect spray to paralyze the spider.

Audy Geiszler, who runs Amalgamated Pest Control in Bowen, said that the spider was a large male with powerful long fangs and was so big that when he placed it — dead — in the palm of his hand, its legs hung over his fingers.

Geiszler said that he had been inundated with calls from worried locals reporting sightings of the giant tarantulas, which have been pushed out of their natural habitat over the past month by heavy, unseasonal rain.

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WEDS AM: Huddersfield dad saves son after Australia shark attack

May 6 2009 By Andrew Jackson

A FORMER Huddersfield man used his life-saving training to rescue his son after he was bitten by an eight-foot shark.

Charles Lindop, who left Huddersfield for Australia, was out surfing with 15-year-old son Andrew in waters close to a Sydney beach when the shark attacked.

The pair were enjoying an early morning surf when Mr Lindop heard his son’s screams and turned to see what was happening.

As he was in the water, the shark, identified as a 2.6-metre great white, bit into Andrew’s leg from the thigh to the ankle, snapping the bone and tearing muscle.

With blood pouring from his leg, the stranded youngster was grabbed by his dad who had first-aid training.

Despite the shark still being around after the attack, Mr Lindop fearlessly got hold of his son and managed to push him to shore.

Once on the sand, Mr Lindop and others were able to create a tourniquet to try and stem the bleeding from his son’s wound.

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Fatal snakebites rare but still require emergency first-aid

29 April, 2009 06:45:00Keith Murray

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I receive a lot of questions about snakebites while conducting training classes onboard yachts, so this month I would like to start by telling you what not to do.

Do not cut or suck on the wound. In addition to the obvious risk factors to the rescuer, you can damage skin and organs, increase the risk of infection, and it will not remove venom.

Do not use ice. Ice has no effect on venom.

Do not use alcohol. Alcohol will not help and may increase venom absorption.

Do not use a tourniquet. They do not stop venom and may cause the victim to lose a limb.

There are more than 3,000 species of snakes worldwide; about 500 species are venomous. About 5 million snakebites occur worldwide each year, causing about 125,000 deaths.

Venom is basically a modified form of saliva. It immobilizes prey so a snake can eat. It acts quickly, affecting the central nervous system, lungs and heart.

If you are bitten by a poisonous snake or lizard, seek emergency medical care immediately. Don’t wait until you experience symptoms.

Never try to kill or capture the reptile just to identify it. Further exposure risks an additional bite. A snake has the ability to bite and release venom by reflex for up to 90 minutes after it is dead. Get as much information about the reptile as possible. If you can safely take a picture, this may help.

Antivenin may not be readily available at every medical facility. Call ahead to find the best place to be treated for the specific bite.

In North America, we have several snakes and lizards that are poisonous: pit vipers, which include rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins/cotton mouths; coral snakes; the Gila monster; and the Mexican bearded lizard. In Maine, Alaska and Hawaii, there are no native poisonous snakes.

Symptoms from snakebites may appear within minutes or take hours. Symptoms may include severe burning or pain where bitten, swelling that starts at the bite and spreads, and possible bleeding from the wound as well as blistering, fever, nervous system disruption, numbness, convulsions, excessive sweating, diarrhea, vision problems, increased thirst, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse, difficulty speaking, and difficulty breathing and/or cessation of breathing.

Sea snakes and some Australian snakes can cause muscle death in multiple areas of the body. These dead muscle cells can clog the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure.

Use caution when dealing with snakebites. A victim may have no initial significant symptoms, and then suddenly develop breathing difficulty and go into shock.

If you do not develop any symptoms after 10-12 hours, it is possible that you were either bitten by a non-venomous snake or no venom was injected. This type of dry bite occurs in approximately 25 percent to 50 percent of all bites.

Of those bites where venom was injected into the body, only about 10 percent are severe. But even if you do not develop symptoms after 10 hours, still seek medical attention and continue to look for symptoms for the next several weeks.

Snakebite victims should seek medical care unless the snake is positively identified as non-venomous. If you are not certain the snake is non-venomous seek medical attention.

A victim who is young, old or has health problems is generally at greater risk than a healthy adult. Factors that affect the severity of a poisonous snake or lizard bite include type and size of the reptile, as well as the quantity of the venom injected, the potency of the venom, the location and depth of the bite, and the number of bites.

Bites by non-venomous species require good wound care. Wash the bite with lots of soap and water and carefully inspect the wound for broken fangs, dirt or debris. Victims that have not had a tetanus booster within the past five years should get one.

Remove any constricting items, such as rings, wrist watches or other jewelry that could reduce blood flow if the bite area swells. Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart. Cover the area with a clean, cool bandage to minimize swelling, and monitor vital signs. If any changes occur, immediately call or radio for help.

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I have to admit, I don’t know who he is.

Schreiber ‘cheats death’ in surfing accident

Friday, April 24 2009, 4:58pm EDT

By Tim Parks

Rex Features

Liev Schreiber has narrowly escaped death while learning how to surf in Australia.

The actor was on holiday with partner Naomi Watts when the near-drowning occurred, according to WENN.

The 42-year-old was caught in a riptide when he tried to give surfing a try and was dragged into a cove where waves pound against a rock wall.

“It was like a washing machine. I’ve never experienced a break like it. It was so quick and strong with no room to get out at the end,” he told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph. “The break just picked me up and dumped me in the rocks and wouldn’t let me up.

“My leash got tangled around both legs so I couldn’t get my legs out to swim. That’s when I started sucking down water.”

Schreiber credits his training as a teen lifeguard with saving his life.

Kununurra man ‘lucky’ to survive croc attack

A crocodile attack survivor who needed 40 stitches in his left arm and chest says he is lucky to be alive. 
   
Mark Northover, 52, was pounced on by the reptile while he was swimming with friends — including three children under six — in Lake Argyle, about 70km south of Kununurra, last Saturday. 
   
He was attacked within minutes of jumping out of his friend’s boat at a popular swimming spot. 
   
“Bang, this thing hit me and tossed me around,” Mr Northover, of Kununurra, said. 
   
He did not see the crocodile coming and at first thought he had been hit by a boat because of the “the power of the push”. But as he felt pain like “big sharp needles”, he realised it was a crocodile.
   
The reptile clawed at his chest and chomped into his upper left arm. But rather than dragging him under, it released him and he struggled to the surface. 
   
Winded and bloodied, Mr Northover warned his friends and the children, who scrambled back on to the boat. He struggled to shore, fearing he would be grabbed again. 
   
Mr Northover said the teeth marks were so deep that when his doctor stuck her finger in the wound, it almost reached her knuckle. 
   
“She said I was lucky it didn’t sever any arteries,” he said. 
   
“I’m lucky to be alive, I honestly am. I’d hate to think what would have happened if it had grabbed one of the kids.” 
   
Mr Northover believes he was the victim of a rare attack by a freshwater crocodile. The 1000sqkm Lake Argyle is home to about 25,000 freshwater crocodiles. 
   
Wildlife officers searching the area this week spotted several big freshwater crocodiles in the water. 
   
The Department of Environment and Conservation said it was possible there were also some saltwater crocodiles in the lake. 
   
The department said attacks by freshwater crocodiles were not common but the creatures could inflict serious injuries. 
   
Mr Northover said he planned to stay safely aboard the boat on any future trips.

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Boy survives croc attack in Northern Territory

By Ben Langford

Northern Territory News

April 14, 2009 12:00am

A YOUNG Northern Territory boy has been attacked by a crocodile while fishing.

He is the third person to be attacked by crocodiles in the Territory in less than a month. But unlike the tragic stories of the two other recent victims, somehow this youngster lived to tell the tale. 

The nine-year-old boy was attacked near the edge of the Adelaide River while fishing with several other people on Easter Sunday morning. 

He was treated at the nearby Adelaide River medical clinic and escaped with minor injuries, only needing stitches to a puncture wound in his hand. 

The attack happened not far from where a trap was set four weeks ago to catch a large croc, reported to be longer than 5m, spotted near a fishing spot on the Adelaide River. 

That large saltie has not been caught. 

The boy is believed to be a resident of the Aboriginal community at Adelaide River, on the western side of the Stuart Highway that runs through the town. The attack happened about 10.30am on Sunday at the community, police said. 

It is not known whether the boy was attacked by a saltwater or freshwater croc, nor how big the animal was. 

But freshies rarely attack without provocation, increasing the chances it was a deadly saltie. 

Police said the matter was now in the hands of Parks and Wildlife. 

Croc catcher Tom Nichols will set a trap in the area today to try and capture the animal. 

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More about the Daly River Croc Attack. Salt Water Crocs are the largest reptiles in the world. I wouldn’t swim anywhere near their habitat.

Croc attack in Australia confirmed

 

Associated Press – April 11, 2009 3:03 AM ET

DARWIN, Australia (AP) – Police say a nighttime swim for a 20-year-old northern Australian man turned deadly early Friday.

A local police superintendent says the man was killed by a 14-ft. crocodile about 2 a.m. when he and his brother, who had been drinking with the victim’s wife on the bank, decided to swim across a river.

Wildlife officials have found the man’s remains.

The superintendent says the trio were local residents and should have know large saltwater crocodiles live in river.

Police destroyed a 14-ft. crocodile believed to be responsible for the attack.

Saltwater crocodiles, the world’s largest reptile at up to 23 feet long, are increasingly common in Australia’s tropical north. Hunting them was banned in 1971.

Four people have died in crocodile attacks in Australia since last September.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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I don’t think it’s really right that rangers are killing any crocs larger than 3 meters looking for human remains. How is it the croc’s fault – even the one that ate the man – that it attacked a man who was stupid enough to try to swim across a river known for large crocs in order to fetch some alcohol? It’s certainly not all the other crocs’ fault!

Croc shot in search for missing man

Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife rangers have shot a saltwater crocodile in an area of the Daly River where it is suspected a man was taken by a crocodile yesterday.

An exclusion zone has been put in place about a kilometre either side of where the man disappeared near the Daly River community, 150 kilometres south of Darwin.

Rangers are seeking out and will destroy any crocodiles over three meters in hopes of finding some of the man’s remains.

Daly River policeman Dean Lynch says Parks and Wildlife shot one crocodile overnight, but he could not yet confirm whether there is any sign that it is the croc responsible for the attack.

“The Daly is prolific with large crocodiles,” he said.

“I don’t have the information about how many attacks there have been but there has been a few over the years. The Daly is well known for large crocodiles.”

Duty Superintendent Jamie Chalker says the missing man was one of two who swam across the river to go and get some alcohol.

“It’s apparent that family members have seen the head of a crocodile making its way towards the man who’s now missing, plus the other person he was crossing the river with,” he said.

“As we now know, one made it and one didn’t.”

Mr Lynch says patrols will continue today.

“A number of large crocodiles have been seen in the attack area and we’re looking at all sorts of things in relation to that,” he said.

“We’ve set up an exclusion zone one kilometre either side of the attack, and we’re hoping that we will be able to recover.”

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Well, this will certainly give them something to talk about during family dinners.

Father and son shark attack first

By VIKKI THOMAS

THIS fearless father and son team are part of the first family on record to have two generations which have survived shark attacks.

Australians Ian Galbraith, 49 and his son Calvin, 17, were both mauled by a bull shark in separate attacks.

Maths teacher Ian suffered serious injuries when his legs were savaged as he swam off the coast of South Africa in 1993.

 

He managed to kick the animal away and crawl to the beach where his wife wrapped his gashes in disposable nappies in front of son Calvin — then aged just one.

Ian was rushed to hospital with blood streaming from 16-inch deep cuts and he was given a blood transfusion and 33 stitches.

And amazingly, last month his student son Calvin was attacked by a 7ft bull shark which sank its teeth into his calf during a surfing trip.

The 200lb beast began thrashing its tail but Calvin, who suffered deep cuts to his legs and feet, also managed to kick himself free.

 

Wounds

 

He was rushed from the beach to hospital where doctors reattached three toes and stitched several deep wounds.

Calvin said: ”Dad always used to tell me about his attack. I was there but too young to remember it. The odds of it happening to me must be millions to one.

”I could tell when I saw my dad in the emergency room that it brought back all sorts of memories. He definitely knew what I’d been through.

”When he turned up and saw me he was like ‘oh no, not again’. We’ve both got a story to tell now but I think his bite was bigger than mine so I guess he wins.”

Ian added: ”’It is a claim to fame I guess – father and son both being attacked by a shark. But not one I’d wish on anyone.”

 

Ian was attacked in January 1993 on a family holiday while swimming in the sea off Hibberdene near Durban, South Africa.

He said: ”It was a big bite, very painful, and I needed a lot of stitches at the time. But instinct just takes over.

“I remember kicking the shark with my free leg and I managed to get free. The weird thing was it happened in shallow water, only about chest deep.”

Calvin was bitten last month off Halls Head beach in Western Australia while surfing with brother Scott, 13

Calvin’s mother Alex, 49, a chemist, said it was a ‘miracle’ both her son and husband escaped the attacks.

Shark attacks being at their lowest levels in half a decade doesn’t seem all that noteworthy, really. I mean, that’s only 5 years, so it almost seems like statistical noise. And when you look at the actual numbers: 71 attacks in 2007, and 59 in 2008, they seems like your normal range of incidences. Normal enough to not really demand an explanation.

But regardless, we get one. Apparently, less money = less people traveling to beaches = less opportunities for shark attacks. Of course, this theory could hold (non shark infested) water, and it does make some sense, but the decline doesn’t really seem notable enough to need it. And anecdotally, at least, here in LA, it seems like MORE people are in the waters, because a beach trip is actually often a cheaper alternative where people can drive instead of fly for their leisure time.

Economy puts bite on shark attacks, researcher says

• Story Highlights
• Sharks attacked 59 people worldwide in 2008, Florida researcher reports
• Four people killed by sharks last year
• Economic downturn means fewer people hitting beaches, researcher says
• Surfers account for 57 percent of shark attacks

(CNN) – Shark attacks on humans were at the lowest levels in half a decade last year, and a Florida researcher says hard economic times may be to blame.

Sharks attacked 59 people in 2008, the lowest number of attacks since 57 in 2003, according to George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File, part of the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.

There were 71 attacks in 2007.

“One can’t help but think that the downturn in the economy played a part in it,” Burgess said.

Fewer people, especially outside of the United States, have the resources to go to the beach, he said.

“To have a shark attack, you have to have humans and sharks in the water at the same time,” Burgess said. “If you have a reduction in the number of people in the water, you’re going to have a reduction in the opportunities for people and sharks to get together.”

“We noticed similar declines during the recession that followed the events of 2001, despite the fact that human populations continued to rise,” the ichthyologist said.

Sharks killed four people in 2008, Burgess said: one in California, one in Australia and two in Mexico.

Forty-one of the 59 attacks worldwide came in the United States, and 32 of those occurred in Florida.

Surfers accounted for 57 percent of shark attacks, swimmers and waders were the targets in 36 percent of the attacks, and divers the rest, he said.

Burgess said the U.S. tends to see more attacks because of a large number of surfers, who are a favorite target of sharks.

And neither the economy nor the attacks tend to keep American surfers from practicing their sport.

“All they have to do is drive to the beach with the board and get into the water, and the rest is free,” he said.

And while an attack may make them a bit more wary, he said, “I’ve yet to find a surfer who says he or she won’t go back into the water after a bite or a nip.”

When the economy improves, shark attack numbers are likely to go up again, according to Burgess, predicting the number of attacks in the next decade will surpass those of the past 10 years.

“We’re putting so many people in the water that humans are dictating the shark attack situation,” he said.