Shark Attacks by Esmeralda Mendoza

            You are enjoying the fresh, cold waters at a beach, when you feel a smooth, hard object touching your skin. You don’t mind cause you think it is nothing. Little do you know, that “nothing” was a shark, and you’re about to fall prey to a shark attck. There are over 100 shark attacks a year that happen worldwide.

            There are three sharks that are considered dangerous near humans and one of them is the tiger shark. Tiger sharks usually live in tropical and temperate waters, especially common around central Pacific islands. They tend to stay in deep waters, but it does move into channels to pursue prey in shallower waters.

            In October 2003, a tiger shark attacked 13 year-old Bettheny Hamilton, an American surfer. The shark bit off her arm near her shoulder. Later on, a large tiger shark was hung and killed; Based on its size and bite pattern, it was presumed to be the shark which attacked Bethany.

“I have been to Santa Cruz beach and its beautiful but I am afraid to swim in the beach, knowing the waves can drown me or a shark can attack me,” said an anonymous female Breakthrough student. While staying close to shore is okay, those who swim further out are in danger of being attacked.