SadaNews – Activists reacted on social media to the recent shark attacks that occurred on one of Australia’s coasts, with some expressing surprise at the inability of science to find a way to detect these predatory fish before they reach the beaches.
The shark has long been a living example of terror in the seas and oceans, with its sharp teeth and triangular fin emerging above the water, signaling its presence and the impending danger.
According to a segment of the “Networks” program aired on January 21, 2026, sharks have deprived Australians of enjoying summer activities like swimming, surfing, and other enjoyable sports during this season.
There were 4 recorded shark attacks on humans within a span of two days in a rare incident, prompting authorities to close more than 40 beaches in New South Wales, eastern Australia.
Authorities reported that a man was bitten by a shark while surfing, and a young man suffered a serious leg bite, with a surfer rescuing him from death.
A shark also bit a child, causing severe injuries that required hospitalization, while another child escaped unharmed after being knocked off his surfboard by a shark.
Experts attributed these attacks to a species of shark known as the “bull shark,” which is robust in structure, reaching about 2.5 meters in length and weighing around 300 kilograms when fully grown.
This large shark is capable of swimming skillfully, particularly in shallow waters, and it thrives in brackish waters unlike other types of sharks, which is why its presence and activity increase after rainfall and near river mouths.
Motives for the Attack
Interestingly, marine science experts at Griffith University in Australia say that bull sharks seldom attack humans, explaining that heavy rains have stirred up the waters.
According to scientists, this situation reduces the visibility for bull sharks, thereby increasing the risk of them colliding with any object, at which point they may bite in self-defense or out of curiosity, since in such cases they do not rely on their sight.
Moreover, this condition, i.e., murky waters, has prevented these fish from being seen via aircraft and drones, hindering beachgoers from being warned of their approach.
Social media reactions were varied, with some surprised at the absence of mechanisms to predict the arrival of these fish at the shore, while others highlighted that this is a common occurrence in Australia.
Lina emphasized that this is not too unusual in Australia, saying:
“Yeah, this happens often in Australia, and they always warn about sharks when we swim and the shark gets close to the shore, it’s really terrifying.”
Meanwhile, Aboud expressed surprise at the lack of predictive measures for these sharks, stating:
“With all the scientific advancements, how come we can’t invent radars to detect the presence of sharks in the sea and warn people?”
Talal pointed out that these fish do not attack humans unless under specific circumstances, saying:
“Under normal circumstances, sharks do not attack humans. There are two reasons for them to attack a human: either the person is injured and attracts the shark with the smell of blood, or the shark is curious due to a white body floating on the surface.”
Finally, Imad mentioned the frequency of such incidents occurring annually, stating:
“In the last 10 years, there have been 20 injuries annually! Look for other safe beaches, good people of Australia!”
Few Beaches for You?
As Imad noted, Australia witnesses about 20 shark attacks annually, with fewer than 3 resulting in fatalities, according to data from environmental protection organizations.
Australia is considered one of the countries with the highest number of recorded shark-related incidents, having reported over 1280 incidents since 1971, resulting in more than 250 fatalities.
Source: Al Jazeera