More shark predation pics

Here is a predation. It ended in a successful kill for the great white shark.

Here is some info on anti-predatory strategies of Cape Fur Seals at Seal Island.

From direct observation and the data collected, Cape Fur Seals apparently reduce their vulnerability to Great White Sharks by:
• taking advantage of the expanded vigilance of entire groups; sub-surface vigilance while rafting is accomplished via assuming a head-down posture, with only the tail and the tip of the rear flippers showing above the surface.

• leaving Seal Island as co-ordinated groups of 8 to 12 animals; multiple groups – ranging from 2 to as many as 5 - leave the island at intervals of approximately 45 seconds

• single or small groups (2-5) of individuals executing a finely controlled zig-zaging evasive manoeuver when a Great White Shark is spotted stalking below them; this tactic is referred to as “working the shark”

• when an individual is actively pursued by a Great White Shark, riding its slipstream – usually mid-body, at the level of its dorsal fin – to remain out of reach of the shark’s jaws; this tactic is referred to as “on the shark”

• when a group is “hit” (attacked) by a White Shark, the individual seals ‘explode’ from the water in all directions, presumably serving to confuse the predator – perhaps sufficiently to allow some or all of them to escape; this tactic is relatively infrequent but highly spectacular

• when an individual or group returns to the island, swimming the last 50 metes or so underwater, presumably because this tactic reduces vulnerability to attack by White Sharks

• when any or all of the aforementioned tactics fail and a predatory attack is successful, the surviving seals become extremely vigilant - often to the point of seeming momentarily stunned - but are, in fact, hyper-alert.

In short, the Cape Fur Seals’ main anti-predatory strategies rely on vigilance and agility

Early morning shark predation pic

Just going through some of our great white shark pics to add to the website.

Here is a typical early morning scene, where a great white shark has made a succerssful predation on a cape fur seal. The gulls are hovering waiting their turn for their scraps.

This weeks AIRJAWS shark news and blues

Rob and I have been really busy this week. We open our new white shark bookings office on Monday, and have been working on getting the old office repainted and looking spiffy for the hand over with the landlord. Rob has also had his hands full looking for a new marina for us, sorting out expired skippers licenses and running around getting quotes for the transfer bus that some idiot drove into and didn't bother to stop!

Rob went to a Shark Working Group meeting on the 25th. The aim was to discuss the fatal great white shark attack in Fish Hoek on the 12 January, the events around the attack and possible improvements and suggestions and comment regarding the shark attack in Cape Town.
To sum up the meeting it was pretty much what the media release contained!

Since the death of my mom on New Years day, my energy levels have been really low and I have been struggling to cope with meetings, kids play dates, being a mom and trying to run a business.Our new bookings assistant starts on Monday, which will free me up to focus on updating our website and a hopefully give me a bit of a break. This sadly wont happen right away as with all new staff, training, training and more training is needed.

The bookings for "AIRJAWS" great white shark breaching trips have been great this week and we are working at sewing up 2 film shoots over peak season.

Rob is out watching Rugby with the boys. Good for him, as he wont get to see his buddies much when shark season comes! It has also given me a chance to curled up with a glass of wine and a great book.The kids are asleep and all is well in the Lawrence home........back to that book!