A viral video shows a great white shark “lunging” at a woman who repeatedly tries to touch it. In fact, she succeeds in petting the apex predator several times as the massive fish thrashes in response. At face value, this video is a bit confusing. What’s going here?
Videos by Outdoors
Knot Lucky Fishing originally shared the video on social media. The nonprofit organization that operates out of Tybee Island, Georgia, helps veterans battling PTSD through offshore fishing. The organization also runs the Knot Lucky White Shark Tagging Program, which brings together marine conservation, scientific research, veterans, and remembrance. During offshore-fishing trips, the crew tags great whites with satellite tags and names them after veterans or fallen American service members.
[RELATED: WATCH: The Exact Moment Shark Attacks Inflatable Kayak]
Here’s the story in Knot Lucky Fishing’s words:
“She reached out to pet a great white shark. The great white had other plans,” the post reads. “Watch that head swing. Right off Tybee Island, one second Jen, one of our veterans, is laying her hand on a wild white shark like it’s the family dog, and the next second that shark whips around and lunges toward her. Everybody on the boat felt that one in their chest. Now let me tell you the truth, because I always will. Jen was never in real danger. The crew had that shark under control the whole time, and it never got close enough to do any harm. But that reaction right there is a reminder of exactly what these animals are. Beautiful. Powerful. Wild. They deserve every ounce of respect we can give them.”
Watch what happens when a woman tries petting a great white shark below (or see it here).
Header stock image by Philip Thurston/Getty Images
