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Whenever He Goes Diving, This Shark Comes To Cuddle With Him (This Has Been Going On For 7 Years)
Meet Rick Anderson, an Australian man who calls a female Port Jackson shark his friend, saying she comes to cuddle with him whenever she sees him. “I started playing with her about seven years ago when she was just a pup about 6 inches long,” Anderson told The Dodo. “I approached her carefully so as not to spook her, then began to gently pat her. Once she got used to me, I would cradle her in my hand and talk soothingly to her through my regulator.”
The man, who has been scuba diving for 27 years and runs a dive school, added: “Over the following seasons, she’d recognize me and would swim up to me for a pat and cuddle. She soon got used to me — to the point where she will swim up to me when I’m going past, and tap me on the legs until I hold my arms out for her to lay on for a cuddle.”
“Most divers seeing this for the first time can’t believe it,” he added. “I don’t feed her or any of the other sharks I play with — I basically treat them like I would a dog.”
More info: Rick’s Dive School | Facebook (h/t: thedodo)
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Meet Rick Anderson, an Australian man who calls a female Port Jackson shark his friend
He says she comes to cuddle with him whenever she sees him
“I started playing with her about seven years ago when she was just a pup about 6 inches long”
“I approached her carefully so as not to spook her, then began to gently pat her”
“I would cradle her in my hand and talk soothingly to her through my regulator”
“Over the following seasons, she’d recognize me and would swim up to me for a pat and cuddle”
“She will… tap me on the legs until I hold my arms out for her to lay on for a cuddle”
“I don’t feed her or any of the other sharks I play with — I basically treat them like I would a dog”
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What do you think ?
The Laugh Fan 9 years ago
How special is it when a wild animal chooses to interact with us? Amazing - beautiful creature.
Trinity Paschall 9 years ago
This is great! I just hope she doesn't approach another diver who thinks she is attacking them and harm her.
Zori the degu 9 years ago
People who think sharks are mindless beasts have to see this one. I personally think sharks are seriously misunderstood members of the animal kingdom and I would be very happy if other people start to appreciate them more.
Sally Vogel 9 years ago
beautiful friendship. other creatures share emotions with us humans. Too bad all humans aren't as nice as this man.
Mel Poletko 9 years ago
Port Jackson sharks are completely harmless to humans. They crush bottom dwelling shellfish and crustaceans for their food. This bond is lovely, and also a good display of fish intelligence/memory.
jevais 9 years ago
I wish that the Asians would stop fishing sharks for food. Sharks will soon disappear from all the oceans if this is kept up. Real ecological disaster is on the way if there are no longer any more sharks in the seas; this will unbalance the eco systems. Also it should be an international law forbidding sharks, whales, & dolphins to be hunted for any reason. Japan not only hunts whales, but also dolphins. Supposedly for scientific reason! Well they just eat them and that is it!
The Laugh Fan 9 years ago
How special is it when a wild animal chooses to interact with us? Amazing - beautiful creature.
Trinity Paschall 9 years ago
This is great! I just hope she doesn't approach another diver who thinks she is attacking them and harm her.
Zori the degu 9 years ago
People who think sharks are mindless beasts have to see this one. I personally think sharks are seriously misunderstood members of the animal kingdom and I would be very happy if other people start to appreciate them more.
Sally Vogel 9 years ago
beautiful friendship. other creatures share emotions with us humans. Too bad all humans aren't as nice as this man.
Mel Poletko 9 years ago
Port Jackson sharks are completely harmless to humans. They crush bottom dwelling shellfish and crustaceans for their food. This bond is lovely, and also a good display of fish intelligence/memory.
jevais 9 years ago
I wish that the Asians would stop fishing sharks for food. Sharks will soon disappear from all the oceans if this is kept up. Real ecological disaster is on the way if there are no longer any more sharks in the seas; this will unbalance the eco systems. Also it should be an international law forbidding sharks, whales, & dolphins to be hunted for any reason. Japan not only hunts whales, but also dolphins. Supposedly for scientific reason! Well they just eat them and that is it!
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