Michael Rutzen
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Areas of expertise
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Through my work as a diver, ecotourism operator and cameraman I have had the privilege of diving with the 3 species of shark considered most dangerous to man; the bull shark, tiger shark and great white shark. I work closely with these sharks outside the cage and the images I create are used by the media to portray sharks in a positive light. Some critics accuse me of being macho but I believe that shark behaviour can be deciphered and manipulated like that of any other large predator such as a lion or bear.
Of course there is an element of risk and people often ask me, “What happens if I get bitten?” I think it is more interesting to pose the question “what do we learn about the animals if I don’t get bitten?” Sharks are naturally curious, surprisingly forgiving and will even seek out physical contact with humans! However they are also being slaughtered at a rate of between 100 – 200 million every year. The majority of people still view sharks as blood thirsty mindless killing machines as portrayed in JAWS. The reality is that they are crucial to maintaining a healthy and balanced marine ecosystem on which our future depends.
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