Ningaloo Reef: Woman injured by whale shark at Australian tourist spot

Gerald · 08-03-20, 03:58 AM

Quote:

An Australian woman has suffered injuries after being struck and injured by a whale shark while snorkelling.

The woman, 29, had been swimming with a tour group at Western Australia's popular Ningaloo Reef on Saturday when she was hit by the animal's tail.

A swim with whale sharks - the largest fish species globally and typically docile - is a popular tourist activity.

Police said work safety regulators were investigating the incident, as it had involved a charter group.

St John's Ambulance said the woman had suffered internal bleeding and upper torso injuries "from the crush".

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cp...-542994406.jpg

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-53632975

Close call.

Platapus · 08-03-20, 08:27 AM

That's unusual. Whale sharks are usually very aware and gentle around divers.

I wonder if she did something to provoke it?

iambecomelife · 08-05-20, 05:35 PM

Turns out the reporters made an error - the article wrongly said Whale Shark when it was a Humpback Whale. Huge difference!

However, what Platapus said is still true; Humpback Whales are another docile species. I think it was an accident; it's hard to picture one of them maliciously banging into a diver.

Gerald · 08-05-20, 07:24 PM

Perhaps the point of the article was that it would be a sensational story to attract readers. In many cases, the media "goes all in" to arouse curiosity.

iambecomelife · 08-06-20, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vendor

Perhaps the point of the article was that it would be a sensational story to attract readers. In many cases, the media "goes all in" to arouse curiosity.

Maybe. Ah well, I hope she recovers. Personally, I try to be very careful around large animals, no matter how friendly or non-predatory people say they are. In Yellowstone a couple days ago, someone was almost gored by a buffalo - she got into its personal space, and provoked it. I don't think most animals are malicious; they just don't know their own strength.

Von Due · 08-06-20, 01:07 AM

Wild animals like humpback whales and buffalos are not malicious. They do have a pretty good idea about their own strength I would say. It's just that neither of these animals care if you are a human, a herring or a hamster. For the whale, it was more likely a case of "ok, I'm gonna swim right here and if you don't move out of the way then it's your fault if you get squashed", and wild bovines are well known for not having any of it if anything not their own herd invades their personal space. The problem is us. Many of us tend to think of wild animals as Disney creations and cute objects here for our entertainment and amusement if we don't think animals have a deep rooted respect and admiration for "their masters the human". Now I do hope she will recover fine but I also hope she grows wiser. Don't swim too close to a very large animal, don't try to hug bear cubs and don't try to engage in a conversation with the cub's mother.

August · 08-09-20, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

Turns out the reporters made an error - the article wrongly said Whale Shark when it was a Humpback Whale. Huge difference!

However, what Platapus said is still true; Humpback Whales are another docile species. I think it was an accident; it's hard to picture one of them maliciously banging into a diver.

Tell that to Moby Dick!

Gerald · 08-10-20, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Scuba dive instructor Andrew Lomakin filmed an incredible 12-minute encounter with a juvenile humpback whale in the shallows of Lady Elliot Island.

Australia's east coast whale migration brings humpbacks to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef every year, but Mr Lomakin described the interaction in the shallow water as "super rare".

Video by Isabelle Rodd

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-au...t-barrier-reef

A wonderfully entertaining show.

Catfish · 08-10-20, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Tell that to Moby Dick!

ok but Mr Dick was a sperm or "pot" whale, not a Humpback. They are known to be a bit more aggressive. And whale hunters had tried to kill him several times, so his action seems appropriate.. the story of the whaler Essex being sunk by a whale is true.

Seriously, the most docile big-sized animal can accidentally kill a human, it is really any human's own responsibility to get in harms way, if he/she wants to watch a whale herd at touch distance.

08-03-20, 08:27 AM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 18,957 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	That's unusual. Whale sharks are usually very aware and gentle around divers. I wonder if she did something to provoke it? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-05-20, 05:35 PM	#3
iambecomelife Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,585 Downloads: 297 Uploads: 0	Turns out the reporters made an error - the article wrongly said Whale Shark when it was a Humpback Whale. Huge difference! However, what Platapus said is still true; Humpback Whales are another docile species. I think it was an accident; it's hard to picture one of them maliciously banging into a diver. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/WolvesoftheKaiser/

08-05-20, 07:24 PM	#4
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,223 Downloads: 548 Uploads: 0	Perhaps the point of the article was that it would be a sensational story to attract readers. In many cases, the media "goes all in" to arouse curiosity. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

08-06-20, 01:07 AM	#6
Von Due Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,660 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	Wild animals like humpback whales and buffalos are not malicious. They do have a pretty good idea about their own strength I would say. It's just that neither of these animals care if you are a human, a herring or a hamster. For the whale, it was more likely a case of "ok, I'm gonna swim right here and if you don't move out of the way then it's your fault if you get squashed", and wild bovines are well known for not having any of it if anything not their own herd invades their personal space. The problem is us. Many of us tend to think of wild animals as Disney creations and cute objects here for our entertainment and amusement if we don't think animals have a deep rooted respect and admiration for "their masters the human". Now I do hope she will recover fine but I also hope she grows wiser. Don't swim too close to a very large animal, don't try to hug bear cubs and don't try to engage in a conversation with the cub's mother.