The influencers getting bitten while chasing the perfect shark shot
Social media influencers are increasingly facing physical danger while attempting to capture content with sharks. Experts warn that the trend of feeding or swimming too close to these animals is leading to a rise in serious bite incidents.
Why it matters
Highlights the intersection of social media culture and wildlife safety, emphasizing the real-world consequences of chasing viral content.
Image source, Tayane Dalazen Image caption, A nurse shark bit Tayane Dalazen while she was diving off the Brazilian coast
"I knew something was different because the sharks were on the surface," says Tayane Dalazen, a 37-year old Brazilian lawyer and social media personality.
"There were a lot of them," she says. "Later, I discovered [the tour organisers] were feeding the sharks so that they would interact with the tourists."
Dalazen, from Sao Paulo, was on a shark-diving trip on the Brazilian coast in April when she suddenly felt "strong pressure" on her leg.
"When the shark bit me, the pain was very strong," she says. "I stayed calm because I knew I couldn't fight the animal."
A nurse shark, more than seven feet (two metres) long, had clamped its jaws around her thigh.
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