Thu, Jul 29, 2004
The bull shark: nine feet of brawn and muscle, one of the most aggressive animals on Earth. We join zoologist Nigel Marven on a journey across the globe to learn more about these incredible predators. Our first destination is the Bahamas, where Nigel meets shark scientist Erich Ritter in waist-deep bull shark infested waters. Erich has stood amongst the sharks hundreds of times before, but tragically he is attacked and bitten on the leg as Nigel stands next to him. Nigel decides to spend the next few months investigating bull sharks to try and learn why Erich's accident happened. In a series of hands-on investigations, he'll show how and why bulls are the world's deadliest shark; there are a number of factors... Bulls as babies: Nigel swims alongside a baby bull shark in America. Even at this young age it's more aggressive than other species, we see it make a meal of a passing fish. Design: Nigel visits Gordon Hubbell in Florida, at the world's largest private collection of shark skulls. The bull shark's teeth and jaws are virtually identical to the feared great white's. Attitude: Bulls are aggressive sharks and don't fear man. They often hassle spearfishermen and steal the fish from the end of their harpoons! We re-enact one such terrifying encounter. Hunting Territory: Bull sharks hunt in the shallows, which puts them into direct contact with us. We see a large ray bitten in half by a thrashing bull. Humans are victims too; Nigel meets an African fisherman who lost a leg to a bull shark and the doctor who saved his life. We also see the complex nets used to protect beaches in South Africa from marauding sharks. Freshwater: The bull can inhabit freshwater, making it virtually unique amongst sharks; they've even been found 1,750 miles up the Mississippi. Nigel joins a shark scientist in Australia and catches young bull sharks on a river popular with children and swimmers. World-wide distribution: They're foun