澳保育分子騎鯨屍打虎鯊

2009-12-07 東方日報

虎鯊素來被認為嗜血和會吃人，但澳洲一名保育分子竟然「老虎頭上釘蝨乸」，騎上正被群鯊噬咬的鯨魚屍體，然後輕拍多條虎鯊的頭，希望證明虎鯊沒有攻擊性。但政府官員警告觸摸鯨魚屬違法行為，也不鼓勵人們騷擾鯊魚，以免招來鯊魚襲擊。

為證虎鯊無攻擊性

澳洲媒體報道，當地一群科學家和保育分子，八月在西澳省對開海域考察及採集數據，駛至珀斯以北八百五十三公里海域時，發現一群虎鯊正圍着一條鯨魚屍體，享用大餐。三十二歲保育分子德尚竟不畏危險，跳上鯨魚屍體，輕拍群鯊的頭部，並拍照留念。然而虎鯊似乎對德尚不感興趣，對德尚的舉動毫不理會。

德尚一直專注進行鯊魚生態的研究，他希望藉着這些照片替虎鯊洗去人們心目中生人勿近的形象。他表示：「虎鯊沒有攻擊性，我認為最有效的證明方法，就是在牠們正在享用大餐時處身牠們之中。」

然而環境保育部門發言人警告，觸摸鯨魚屬違法行為，也不鼓勵人們騷擾鯊魚，避免惹來鯊魚攻擊，他說：「這種行為高度不負責任而且危險，會令人們的生命受威脅。」

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Leon Deschamps, WA man who pats 'sedate' tiger sharks

SPECIAL REPORT: THESE pictures show WA conservationist Leon Deschamps sitting on a whale carcass and patting tiger sharks feeding on it.

He hopes the images will dispel what he says are ``myths'' that tiger sharks are bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters.

Scientists found the sharks feasting on the dead whale during a field trip to collect genetic samples as part of the Shark Bay Ecosystem Research Project in August.

Picture Gallery: See more extraordinary pictures

The sharks appeared almost indifferent to the close attention they received from Mr Deschamps and other conservationists perched atop their feast.

``Tiger sharks are not aggressive,'' Mr Deschamps said. ``And I thought the most effective way to demonstrate that would be by throwing ourselves into the middle of a feeding frenzy.

"They were sedate in their movements and far from aggressive, despite it being a time when they are supposed to be at their most ferocious. I think they enjoyed the experience.''

But a Department of Environment and Conservation spokesman warned that touching whales was illegal and people were encouraged not to interfere with sharks because of the risk of attack.

``This is highly irresponsible and dangerous behaviour and puts people's lives at risk,'' the spokesman said.

Mr Deschamps, 32, has been working with sharks for most of his life, and reiterated the department's warning to leave them alone, especially during feeding.

``The water (in Shark Bay) is so shallow that sharks can be better seen from a 4WD than a boat,'' he said.

He believes Shark Bay, with more than 40 shark species, has as much to offer as the popular tourist destination Monkey Mia, famous for its dolphins.

He said the former shire council had discouraged him from promoting the area's rich shark population, for fear that tourism would be negatively affected.

To aid conservation efforts, he is campaigning for acoustic monitoring devices to be placed along a 1000km stretch of Shark Bay coastline. He hopes the data will reveal the sharks' migratory routes and feeding patterns, which are relatively unknown.

He is also working to establish a database of images using the animals' distinctive dorsal fins so individual sharks can be recognised.

Local conservationists Trevor and Rhonda Humphries are so passionate about Mr Deschamps' project, they donated their retirement yacht to be used as a research vessel.

``All the research at the moment is done by international, mostly American or Canadian, researchers,'' Mr Deschamps said.

``I just want to see more Aussies involved in creating their own conservation programs in their own back yard.''

VIDEO: Shark whisperer