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Old 07-14-2004, 10:29 AM   #6
jaguar
whig
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,075
Since colonisation over 200 odd years ago, there have been less than 200 deaths resulting from shark attacks in Australia. It's so rare it's not funny.

There is a theory which has to some extent been proven that sharks that attack people are more likely to do so again, which is the rationalisation I've heard used but there is no way to ID them and they're rare enough as it is.

The other factor is that there are a lot of things off Aussie waters that can kill you, jellyfish, sharks, various seashells, seasnakes and stonefish not to mention some truly evil currents and undertows that so many people are not only unaware of but have no idea how to escape from either. If you choose to jump in the ocean you're taking a risk, if you pull a short straw there is no logic in taking it out on the first animal of the same species that floats into the sights.
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