White Sharks Captured on Camera in Atlantic, Bull Shark Causes Rare Attack in Tobago

Scientists from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy have attached a camera to a great white shark, allowing them to capture an unprecedented view of what these 9-foot predators see beneath the ocean’s surface. Meanwhile, in Tobago – one of the Southeastern Caribbean islands – Peter Smith, a 64-year-old British tourist has been attacked by a bull shark while swimming near Courland Bay, which is popular with tourists. The attack left him without an arm and leg. Officials reported that the victim’s left hand was severed from his elbow down, whilst his thigh had also been amputated due to injuries sustained during the encounter. Smith received further lacerations on his stomach as well. Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said an 8-10 foot bull shark attacked Peter Smith around 30 feet from shore at approximately 9:15 a.m last Friday, April 26th. The tourist was subsequently hospitalized in intensive care following the attack. Trinidad and Tobago authorities have since closed seven beaches and one marine park as a result of this incident which has prompted close monitoring by various agencies including drone reconnaissance/surveillance efforts to maintain safety around that particular location for the foreseeable future while officials continue their investigations into what led up to Smith’s attack. Shark attacks are relatively rare, with last year seeing just 69 unprovoked incidents and a total of 14 fatalities worldwide according to data from Florida-based International Shark Attack File (ISAF).