Animal Attacks: Whose Fault is It?

Since the heartrending death of Croc Hunter Steve Irwin, blogs and internet message boards have been saturated with talk about his death-defying interactions with some of the world’s most dangerous creatures. I will admit that I possess a distinct fascination with wildlife and nature shows. But there are certain questions that I have asked myself as I observed many different scientists and explorers tipping into unchartered territory. And while scientists have what could be considered a “legitimate” reason for braving the wild in search of answers, I often wonder what business humans have poking around in the wild, for the fun of it.

In 1975, Steven Spielberg directed a terrifying blockbuster hit called “Jaws.” Though the shark itself was simply a daunting replica, the horror of being attacked by sharks was very real, thus prompting many movie-goers to reconsider their vacationing options. Fast-forward to June of 2005, where 14-year old boogie boarder Jaime Daigle lost her life to a hungry shark in the panhandle between Pensacola and Panama City, Florida. In July of 2005, another 14-year old girl was bitten on the foot by a shark off the coast of Galveston, Texas. This youngster lived, and her family has stated that the incident would “not prevent the group from gathering on the bay again” and that they suspected that they would “be back the following year.” Moreover, currently there is an entire website dedicated to one, Bethany Hamilton, who was attacked on Halloween in 2003, by a 14-foot tiger shark off the coast of Hawaii. Bethany, a championship surfer since the age of 11, survived the attack, but not without losing an arm in the process. Since her death-defying encounter with the tiger shark, she has been featured many times in the media, and dubbed a hero by her peers, and even on the Teen Choice Awards. Just ten weeks after her attack, she was back on the surf boards, paddling into the ocean.

Another tragic tale of underwater fatality is the 1998 death of couple Tom and Eileen Lonergan. They became stranded off of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, when they were separated from the group of divers they’d traveled there with. Though their bodies were never recovered, it is believed that they either drowned, or were attacked by sharks-as the waters there were known to be shark infested. The couple was very experienced in diving, and felt confident that they would be rescued (as was depicted in the 2003 true story film, “Open Water”, directed by Chris Kentis and Laura Lau). Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Though these incidents were random, and there are many more accounts which have not been so public-the basis of the attacks is rooted in the human man’s sense of invincibility. As can be observed simply by watching the Public Broadcasting Network, the quest for information about the world around us can sometimes put human beings in grave danger. There are an infinite number of creatures which live in the deep seas. Scientists (ironically, through research) have proven that many sea creatures possess rather extensive communication skills amongst each other. They also have very complicated senses, sometimes being able to see or detect motion from distances incomprehensible to man. For example, dolphins have been proven to have an intricate system of whistles, moans, and clicks which signify language. It has been established that these animals are highly intelligent. And though humans may be unable to decipher their language, that does not mean that the language itself does not exist. Furthermore, it should be assumed that if dolphins can communicate so effectively with humans, and with each other-then other underwater life might be capable of doing the same.

Stingrays are not known for being aggressive animals. But their sophisticated method of protecting themselves is something to watch out for when taking a dip in the ocean. These animals attack particularly when they feel threatened-most often when they are stepped upon. Unfortunately, we’ll never know the real reason the stingray decided to shoot a barb through Steve Irwin’s heart. Despite all the proof regarding the supreme intelligence of aquatic life, it would be insulting to assume that the stingray didn’t know what it was doing.

There are many dangers involved in the lifestyles that humans have carved out for themselves. Airplane crashes take hundreds of lives each year; automobile collisions claim even more lives. In fact, to sit and ponder the scores of freak accidents for humans to become involved in would take an infinite amount of time. However, it is when animals are involved that we should question whether human fatalities should be considered unfortunate “accidents,” or par for the course. Steve Irwin was a vibrant world explorer who will be greatly missed. His death, for certain is a tragedy. His family and friends have all stated that Steve would have wanted to die doing something he loved. If everyone on the earth could pass away with this sentiment, it might even be a much better world. But the fine line between scientific exploration and disturbing the peace (of Mother Nature) is often blurred-sometimes to the dissatisfaction of its explorers.