1 00:00:01,001 --> 00:00:02,043 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 3 00:00:02,127 --> 00:00:03,211 NARRATOR: In the animal kingdom, 4 00:00:03,294 --> 00:00:06,464 males are often presumed to be the most dominant. 5 00:00:07,549 --> 00:00:13,054 But are the biggest, baddest, and fiercest sharks in the ocean female? 6 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 7 00:00:13,138 --> 00:00:15,598 -ERIC CLUA (over radio): Perfect! -ALISON TOWNER: Woah! 8 00:00:15,682 --> 00:00:19,144 A beautiful, big, female great white shark came right under the boat here 9 00:00:19,227 --> 00:00:20,228 and surprised us. 10 00:00:20,311 --> 00:00:23,023 NARRATOR: Tap into cutting-edge research around the globe... 11 00:00:23,106 --> 00:00:25,400 -THOMAS VIGNAUD (over radio): Oh, wow. -CLUA (over radio): It's a female. 12 00:00:25,483 --> 00:00:30,030 NARRATOR: ...and uncover what it takes to rule the waves. 13 00:00:35,660 --> 00:00:39,122 There are many differences between male and female sharks. 14 00:00:40,457 --> 00:00:43,084 One fascinating factor is their behavior. 15 00:00:48,506 --> 00:00:54,220 But could differences in both sex and behavior explain why some sharks attack? 16 00:00:55,180 --> 00:00:57,265 REPORTER 1: Now to the high alert at America's beaches... 17 00:00:57,348 --> 00:00:59,309 REPORTER 2: Lifeguards have spotted a shark near swimmers 18 00:00:59,392 --> 00:01:01,227 about five feet from shore. 19 00:01:04,647 --> 00:01:07,984 (tense music) 20 00:01:09,152 --> 00:01:13,865 NARRATOR: In Mossel Bay, South Africa, Alison Towner is investigating the shark 21 00:01:13,948 --> 00:01:17,202 thought responsible for more human fatalities than any other, 22 00:01:18,036 --> 00:01:19,412 the great white. 23 00:01:20,830 --> 00:01:22,290 ALISON TOWNER: If there's ever a species of shark 24 00:01:22,373 --> 00:01:25,919 that you need to be extra cautious around, of course, it's a great white shark. 25 00:01:27,837 --> 00:01:32,050 NARRATOR: Alison sets out to locate and tag a large, female white shark here 26 00:01:32,133 --> 00:01:38,181 to reveal its movements and discover if females are more voracious than males. 27 00:01:40,975 --> 00:01:44,896 The largest male white sharks grow over 13 feet in length, 28 00:01:45,730 --> 00:01:47,315 but what about females? 29 00:01:47,398 --> 00:01:49,901 While both sexes can actually get really large, 30 00:01:49,984 --> 00:01:52,779 females have to be a lot bigger in order to reproduce. 31 00:01:53,488 --> 00:01:57,867 To see a mature female great white shark is an absolute spectacle. 32 00:01:57,951 --> 00:02:00,870 These animals get up to over 21 feet. 33 00:02:00,954 --> 00:02:02,872 I mean, they're weighing in at around two tons. 34 00:02:03,540 --> 00:02:07,252 NARRATOR: Some of the biggest documented white sharks are pregnant females. 35 00:02:07,335 --> 00:02:10,296 They've got physiological demands on their body when they're pregnant. 36 00:02:10,839 --> 00:02:13,842 NARRATOR: These enormous sharks must provide nutrients to sustain 37 00:02:13,925 --> 00:02:19,514 as many as 17 live young in utero, each measuring up to five feet long. 38 00:02:19,597 --> 00:02:21,182 TOWNER: This could mean that they're more hungry, 39 00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:23,852 and that they're seeking out food by the coastal zones. 40 00:02:25,311 --> 00:02:28,106 NARRATOR: Through active tracking with an acoustic transmitter, 41 00:02:28,189 --> 00:02:30,233 Alison can gain valuable insight 42 00:02:30,316 --> 00:02:34,320 into the movements of these mysterious females in real time. 43 00:02:34,821 --> 00:02:37,615 But first, she must tag one. 44 00:02:40,368 --> 00:02:43,329 TOWNER: Mossel Bay is a really important spot for white sharks. 45 00:02:43,413 --> 00:02:46,833 And that's primarily because it's effectively an aggregation site 46 00:02:46,916 --> 00:02:47,834 for their prey. 47 00:02:47,917 --> 00:02:51,504 We've got a seal colony with around 4,000 Cape fur seals. 48 00:02:52,672 --> 00:02:55,133 Look at that! Predation over there! 49 00:02:55,675 --> 00:02:56,801 It's a shark taking a seal. 50 00:02:57,385 --> 00:03:00,054 The most amount of seals found in a white shark's stomach 51 00:03:00,138 --> 00:03:04,601 was six full Cape fur seals, not pups, adults. 52 00:03:04,684 --> 00:03:06,436 We think it literally went around the island, 53 00:03:06,519 --> 00:03:08,646 chomping seal after seal after seal. 54 00:03:10,190 --> 00:03:13,860 We didn't realize they were capable of eating that much all in one sitting. 55 00:03:13,943 --> 00:03:16,404 NARRATOR: Could bouts of intense feeding like this 56 00:03:16,487 --> 00:03:19,199 relate to females bulking up before pupping? 57 00:03:19,949 --> 00:03:21,951 Mossel Bay port control. Mossel Bay port control. 58 00:03:23,286 --> 00:03:25,246 TOWNER: We just arrived at Seal Island, 59 00:03:25,330 --> 00:03:27,332 we're gonna get some chum slick going into the water 60 00:03:27,415 --> 00:03:29,125 so that we can get a white shark to the boat, 61 00:03:29,209 --> 00:03:30,877 then we can get a tag in. 62 00:03:31,002 --> 00:03:35,506 NARRATOR: These sharks may have the best sense of smell of any shark species. 63 00:03:35,590 --> 00:03:38,885 TOWNER: Female great white sharks, what I like to call "the big girls," 64 00:03:38,968 --> 00:03:42,138 often, a lot of the other white sharks around the boat will just scatter, 65 00:03:42,222 --> 00:03:44,474 and the big girls will kind of take over the show. 66 00:03:47,393 --> 00:03:51,981 NARRATOR: These supreme predators rely on the art of ambush. 67 00:03:57,111 --> 00:03:59,072 In the moments before an attack, 68 00:03:59,155 --> 00:04:02,992 great white sharks can swim in bursts of over 20 feet per second. 69 00:04:09,916 --> 00:04:13,419 It isn't long before the first shark appears. 70 00:04:14,879 --> 00:04:17,966 (tense music) 71 00:04:19,425 --> 00:04:20,635 TOWNER: Woah! 72 00:04:20,718 --> 00:04:22,095 NARRATOR: It's a large female. 73 00:04:22,178 --> 00:04:23,805 -MAN: Here it comes. Deep. Deep. -TOWNER: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 74 00:04:23,888 --> 00:04:26,891 NARRATOR: She could be exactly what Alison is looking for. 75 00:04:26,975 --> 00:04:29,978 (dramatic music) 76 00:04:34,232 --> 00:04:38,111 Near the back of the boat here. Having another fret at my bait. 77 00:04:45,743 --> 00:04:49,831 NARRATOR: Alison must wait for the ideal moment to deploy the tracking device. 78 00:04:57,547 --> 00:04:59,007 TOWNER: Woah! 79 00:05:02,176 --> 00:05:03,720 She's here, she's here. 80 00:05:06,389 --> 00:05:07,265 Woah! 81 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,103 Absolutely unbelievable! 82 00:05:12,186 --> 00:05:14,689 We have a shark that's literally launched itself out the water 83 00:05:14,772 --> 00:05:15,815 three times in a row, 84 00:05:15,898 --> 00:05:18,818 to the point that we can't tag this animal. 85 00:05:18,901 --> 00:05:22,488 NARRATOR: The shark will not stay in one place long enough to deploy. 86 00:05:22,947 --> 00:05:26,534 Bring back again. Okay, here we go! Oh! 87 00:05:27,744 --> 00:05:29,704 NARRATOR: Tagging a shark this unpredictable 88 00:05:29,787 --> 00:05:32,874 is too dangerous for both Alison and the shark. 89 00:05:32,957 --> 00:05:34,250 It is far too difficult. 90 00:05:34,751 --> 00:05:37,545 But that's science for you, you know, it is full of surprises. 91 00:05:37,628 --> 00:05:39,839 And white sharks all have their own personalities. 92 00:05:40,590 --> 00:05:43,926 NARRATOR: Personality in animals is a pioneering area of research, 93 00:05:44,677 --> 00:05:49,891 and a team of scientists are on a mission to understand the mind of the shark. 94 00:05:49,974 --> 00:05:51,976 (dramatic music) 95 00:05:53,353 --> 00:05:56,356 Rising abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean, 96 00:05:56,939 --> 00:05:59,776 600 miles from the nearest landmass, 97 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,572 this is the lonely coral atoll of Fuvahmulah. 98 00:06:06,616 --> 00:06:11,079 The fishermen here have swept fish blood and guts into the water for generations. 99 00:06:12,705 --> 00:06:17,293 Inadvertently, they are calling a formidable predator up from the deep. 100 00:06:19,962 --> 00:06:22,924 Dr. Thomas Vignaud is a shark behavior expert, 101 00:06:23,007 --> 00:06:25,718 specializing in the personality of bull sharks. 102 00:06:27,887 --> 00:06:31,516 Now he is preparing to meet another equally feared species, 103 00:06:34,227 --> 00:06:35,395 the tiger shark. 104 00:06:37,563 --> 00:06:38,981 VIGNAUD: There is nowhere else in the world 105 00:06:39,065 --> 00:06:41,484 where you can get this close to tigers so easily. 106 00:06:41,567 --> 00:06:45,154 Very shallow water, very close to the shore, just a few meters away. 107 00:06:45,655 --> 00:06:48,157 NARRATOR: Thomas hopes to use these unique conditions 108 00:06:48,241 --> 00:06:51,452 to assess the personalities of the local sharks. 109 00:06:52,203 --> 00:06:55,873 VIGNAUD: Males will usually have a bit more energy and move around faster. 110 00:06:55,957 --> 00:06:59,335 They are also more skinny and a little bit more cautious, 111 00:06:59,419 --> 00:07:03,589 but females are usually very confident and bold, they get a lot closer. 112 00:07:04,465 --> 00:07:07,635 So I know for a fact that there are shark personalities, 113 00:07:08,177 --> 00:07:10,888 but it's really hard to translate that knowledge into science. 114 00:07:11,389 --> 00:07:15,184 You have to translate it into measurements over years and years. 115 00:07:15,268 --> 00:07:16,686 This is the really hard part. 116 00:07:29,031 --> 00:07:30,783 Hey, hey! Shark! 117 00:07:32,785 --> 00:07:34,662 I've never seen one so close to surface. 118 00:07:35,329 --> 00:07:36,330 NARRATOR: Thomas' hypothesis 119 00:07:36,831 --> 00:07:40,293 is that every shark has its own, very specific personality. 120 00:07:41,294 --> 00:07:44,380 If his theory is correct, it could be a sign of intelligence, 121 00:07:44,881 --> 00:07:47,467 which might evolve our perception of sharks. 122 00:07:48,176 --> 00:07:50,386 VIGNAUD: I think there is a big storm coming in, it's pretty wavy. 123 00:07:50,470 --> 00:07:51,721 I hope the visibility is okay. 124 00:07:51,804 --> 00:07:54,223 Otherwise, it's gonna be really hard to see the sharks well. 125 00:07:54,307 --> 00:07:55,766 It might get a little bit dangerous. 126 00:07:56,267 --> 00:07:59,103 NARRATOR: If female personalities are different from males, 127 00:07:59,187 --> 00:08:03,441 could this research then shed light on the profile of a shark that attacks? 128 00:08:06,027 --> 00:08:11,115 George Burgess is a shark attack expert studying human-shark conflict. 129 00:08:11,199 --> 00:08:14,452 The three species of sharks that are most dangerous to humans 130 00:08:14,535 --> 00:08:18,998 are white sharks, bull sharks, and tiger sharks. 131 00:08:19,081 --> 00:08:23,836 The big three probably represent about 80% of fatal attacks recorded 132 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,005 in the international shark attack file. 133 00:08:26,547 --> 00:08:31,052 If you wanted to develop a profile of a killer shark, you'd start with size. 134 00:08:31,886 --> 00:08:34,305 Size, of course, is the most important thing. 135 00:08:34,388 --> 00:08:36,849 The shark has to be big enough to cause real damage. 136 00:08:37,558 --> 00:08:42,188 And generally speaking, females tend to grow to a larger size than do males. 137 00:08:42,271 --> 00:08:44,148 NARRATOR: With their physical superiority, 138 00:08:44,232 --> 00:08:49,487 could large female sharks be more dominant and possibly more aggressive than males? 139 00:08:51,197 --> 00:08:53,241 Thomas intends to find out. 140 00:08:54,450 --> 00:08:57,453 (tense music) 141 00:09:01,582 --> 00:09:03,834 He follows the reef towards the edge. 142 00:09:05,836 --> 00:09:11,175 From here, the ocean floor drops away to a depth of over 16,000 feet. 143 00:09:12,134 --> 00:09:14,262 VIGNAUD (over radio): I can't see any sharks here. 144 00:09:15,012 --> 00:09:17,014 The visibility is a shame. 145 00:09:17,431 --> 00:09:19,767 NARRATOR: It's from this abyss that the sharks come. 146 00:09:19,850 --> 00:09:23,271 (tense music) 147 00:09:27,567 --> 00:09:29,652 The tiger sharks begin to arrive. 148 00:09:30,778 --> 00:09:35,950 But are they males, or females, which can grow up to 18 feet long? 149 00:09:36,033 --> 00:09:37,827 VIGNAUD (over radio): Wow! Did you see that? 150 00:09:38,327 --> 00:09:41,789 NARRATOR: Known to have one of the broadest diets of any shark species, 151 00:09:42,999 --> 00:09:48,254 the tiger has a reputation as a scavenger that will eat almost anything. 152 00:09:49,672 --> 00:09:53,134 VIGNAUD (over radio): Oh, wow. Here is a male. 153 00:09:54,468 --> 00:09:55,886 These are his claspers. 154 00:09:55,970 --> 00:10:00,600 NARRATOR: Claspers, the male reproductive organs, differentiate the sexes. 155 00:10:00,683 --> 00:10:05,271 VIGNAUD (over radio): These males are, I'd say, 8 to 10 feet long. 156 00:10:05,354 --> 00:10:08,357 Showing timid, skittish behavior. 157 00:10:09,233 --> 00:10:11,152 NARRATOR: The males scatter. 158 00:10:13,988 --> 00:10:17,908 A much larger shark has arrived. 159 00:10:19,994 --> 00:10:21,370 (tense music) 160 00:10:21,454 --> 00:10:24,832 VIGNAUD (over radio): Wow. Look at this female shark. 161 00:10:24,915 --> 00:10:28,586 NARRATOR: A 14-foot-long female is on the scene. 162 00:10:33,507 --> 00:10:35,468 VIGNAUD (over radio): This female is coming straight for the food. 163 00:10:36,052 --> 00:10:40,264 NARRATOR: She swallows the entire tuna head in one effortless bite. 164 00:10:41,474 --> 00:10:44,560 This female is at the front of the dinner line. 165 00:10:47,021 --> 00:10:49,231 Thomas already sees similarities 166 00:10:49,315 --> 00:10:52,568 between his work with bull sharks and the tiger sharks here. 167 00:10:53,319 --> 00:10:55,488 But what about identifying different personalities 168 00:10:55,988 --> 00:10:58,074 of both male and female sharks? 169 00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:01,869 VIGNAUD: I've been very privileged 170 00:11:01,952 --> 00:11:05,498 to spend over 1,000 hours with bull sharks in Fiji. 171 00:11:06,165 --> 00:11:08,042 And it's been a great opportunity for me 172 00:11:08,125 --> 00:11:10,920 to learn more about their behavior or their personalities. 173 00:11:11,003 --> 00:11:12,838 You can really assess which one is dominant 174 00:11:12,922 --> 00:11:15,383 and which ones are little bit less likely to go into a fight. 175 00:11:16,384 --> 00:11:18,177 NARRATOR: Dominant, female bull sharks 176 00:11:18,260 --> 00:11:21,347 seem to behave in a similar way to tiger sharks. 177 00:11:21,430 --> 00:11:24,350 VIGNAUD: This is Ninja. It's one of my favorite bull shark. 178 00:11:24,433 --> 00:11:29,897 Really impressive female, extremely smart, so agile, very skillful. 179 00:11:29,980 --> 00:11:32,358 Those big female really have a-- 180 00:11:32,441 --> 00:11:34,902 a presence, something very special about them. 181 00:11:34,985 --> 00:11:36,654 They are by far the most dominant. 182 00:11:37,405 --> 00:11:39,281 NARRATOR: Like the large female tiger, 183 00:11:39,365 --> 00:11:43,703 it appears females of both species can show dominance over males. 184 00:11:46,455 --> 00:11:49,917 Now, he'll evaluate the personalities of these tiger sharks 185 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:51,627 and form a database. 186 00:11:53,421 --> 00:11:57,383 Using a numerical scale, he'll score the tiger sharks' behavior, 187 00:11:57,466 --> 00:12:01,762 rating their confidence from safe to potentially dangerous to humans. 188 00:12:01,846 --> 00:12:04,724 VIGNAUD: I use it to write down the different behavior I see 189 00:12:04,807 --> 00:12:05,933 in different situations. 190 00:12:06,434 --> 00:12:10,146 For example, if a shark is coming to eat a fish head, it's one situation. 191 00:12:10,730 --> 00:12:14,525 If a shark is coming towards me, a human being, it's a different situation. 192 00:12:14,608 --> 00:12:16,152 NARRATOR: Using an ethogram, 193 00:12:16,235 --> 00:12:21,240 Thomas reviews the personalities of the sharks, giving them a score from 1 to 10, 194 00:12:22,742 --> 00:12:27,496 1 being very shy. 10, extremely bold. 195 00:12:28,706 --> 00:12:30,875 VIGNAUD: If I take the average of all the situation, 196 00:12:30,958 --> 00:12:35,045 then that gives me an idea of how bold or shy the shark is overall. 197 00:12:35,796 --> 00:12:37,923 Then I can compare this shark to the others. 198 00:12:41,594 --> 00:12:43,888 VIGNAUD (over radio): This male is really not confident, 199 00:12:43,971 --> 00:12:45,681 he won't come near me. 200 00:12:46,974 --> 00:12:48,434 This one is probably a 3. 201 00:12:51,395 --> 00:12:56,650 Now this female is displaying a bold behavior, probably rating 7 or 8. 202 00:12:57,485 --> 00:13:01,113 NARRATOR: From the outset, the females are scoring higher than the males. 203 00:13:03,574 --> 00:13:06,577 VIGNAUD: When you spend thousands of hours with the same sharks in the water, 204 00:13:06,660 --> 00:13:08,370 you really get to know them so well 205 00:13:08,454 --> 00:13:12,124 that you can really predict what they're gonna do a few seconds before. 206 00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:15,127 You really develop a special relationship with them. It's amazing. 207 00:13:18,130 --> 00:13:20,966 NARRATOR: Rating behavior over extended periods of time 208 00:13:21,050 --> 00:13:23,636 identifies the average behavior of each shark. 209 00:13:25,095 --> 00:13:28,390 This can demonstrate unique, individual personalities. 210 00:13:29,475 --> 00:13:32,061 And if sharks do have different personalities, 211 00:13:32,144 --> 00:13:36,440 could this be a product of their experience, their environment, 212 00:13:36,941 --> 00:13:38,901 or could it be their genetics? 213 00:13:38,984 --> 00:13:41,111 (ambient music) 214 00:13:41,195 --> 00:13:44,573 -CLUA: Hey! Thomas! (laughs) -VIGNAUD: Eric! Nice to see you. 215 00:13:44,657 --> 00:13:47,076 NARRATOR: Thomas is joined by Professor Eric Clua 216 00:13:47,660 --> 00:13:50,120 and his assistant, Clementine Seguigne. 217 00:13:51,539 --> 00:13:53,123 Eric is a marine biologist 218 00:13:53,207 --> 00:13:58,128 specializing in shark behavioral ecology and human-shark conflict. 219 00:14:00,172 --> 00:14:03,884 I'm focusing, you know, on better understanding shark behavior. 220 00:14:05,344 --> 00:14:09,014 NARRATOR: Eric's compelling theory could explain attacks on people. 221 00:14:10,432 --> 00:14:15,062 If you accept the hypothesis that shark have personalities, 222 00:14:15,145 --> 00:14:18,107 it means that every shark will be different one from each other. 223 00:14:18,691 --> 00:14:22,194 Most sharks will never dare attacking a human, 224 00:14:22,278 --> 00:14:28,659 but you may have some very few, scarce, dysfunctional animals that will do it, 225 00:14:28,742 --> 00:14:31,328 and we call them problem individuals. 226 00:14:33,205 --> 00:14:35,499 CLEMENTINE SEGUIGNE: Problem individuals are sharks 227 00:14:35,583 --> 00:14:38,752 which display a very particular type of behavior. 228 00:14:39,420 --> 00:14:42,840 Some shark can attack humans more than others, 229 00:14:42,923 --> 00:14:47,094 particularly if these animals are very curious and inquisitive. 230 00:14:50,931 --> 00:14:55,269 99.9% of the population will never attack a human. 231 00:14:55,853 --> 00:14:59,481 But then you will have one that will do it, and repeatedly. 232 00:14:59,565 --> 00:15:03,319 REPORTER: Tonight, danger in the surf. Lifeguards on shark patrol. 233 00:15:03,402 --> 00:15:06,989 NARRATOR: Like Thomas, Eric's problem-individual theory 234 00:15:07,072 --> 00:15:11,410 relies on demonstrating that sharks do indeed have individual personalities, 235 00:15:12,536 --> 00:15:16,290 meaning some might be shy, while others are bold, 236 00:15:16,916 --> 00:15:20,753 and that this individual behavior is consistent throughout the shark's life. 237 00:15:21,462 --> 00:15:22,630 I have also to prove 238 00:15:22,713 --> 00:15:28,260 that the personality trait is transmitted from one generation to another one; 239 00:15:28,344 --> 00:15:30,429 that the young shark, which is bold, 240 00:15:30,512 --> 00:15:34,350 will have either a mother or the father that is also bold. 241 00:15:37,186 --> 00:15:41,190 NARRATOR: Eric must establish the lineage of these sharks through genetic analysis, 242 00:15:41,273 --> 00:15:42,900 using DNA sampling. 243 00:15:43,317 --> 00:15:47,488 If successful, he may be able to identify potential problem individuals 244 00:15:47,571 --> 00:15:48,906 in a population. 245 00:15:49,448 --> 00:15:54,703 We are trying to use less intrusive tools to get DNA from the shark. 246 00:15:54,787 --> 00:15:58,415 So usually we were shooting the shark, you know, with a biopsy probe, 247 00:15:58,499 --> 00:16:02,503 but we're gonna try getting DNA through the saliva of the shark. 248 00:16:03,587 --> 00:16:06,465 NARRATOR: Eric hopes that a shark will bite the tuna head, 249 00:16:06,548 --> 00:16:08,342 leaving behind a tooth mark 250 00:16:08,425 --> 00:16:11,470 which may be swabbed for traces of the shark's DNA. 251 00:16:13,263 --> 00:16:15,349 I'm hoping that the shark will have to struggle 252 00:16:15,432 --> 00:16:19,311 to bite and cut the head, and hopefully, it will leave its DNA. 253 00:16:23,148 --> 00:16:25,401 NARRATOR: The team head out of Fuvahmulah harbor 254 00:16:25,484 --> 00:16:29,154 to search for the sharks, and they don't have far to go. 255 00:16:31,907 --> 00:16:34,284 Woah! Shark! Shark! Shark! 256 00:16:34,952 --> 00:16:36,662 -SEGUIGNE: Whoa! -CLUA: Wow. 257 00:16:38,330 --> 00:16:40,082 That is a big one. That is a big one. 258 00:16:40,958 --> 00:16:42,710 NARRATOR: Thomas coordinates top-side, 259 00:16:42,793 --> 00:16:46,296 while Eric and Clementine prepare to get up close and personal. 260 00:16:46,380 --> 00:16:48,924 -Ready to meet tiger sharks? -VIGNAUD: Oh, yeah. 261 00:16:49,008 --> 00:16:49,967 Okay, let's go! 262 00:16:51,802 --> 00:16:54,805 (tense music) 263 00:17:00,811 --> 00:17:03,522 Hey, Eric, can you hear me? How's it going down there? 264 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,818 CLUA (over radio): Okay, the visibility is really bad. 265 00:17:14,283 --> 00:17:17,619 (tense music) 266 00:17:17,703 --> 00:17:22,958 There's something over there, in the distance. 267 00:17:23,751 --> 00:17:25,836 How is the activity down there? 268 00:17:26,879 --> 00:17:28,714 CLUA (over radio): Wow. They are all around. 269 00:17:31,592 --> 00:17:34,344 (intense music) 270 00:17:34,428 --> 00:17:36,138 Watch out, Clem! 271 00:17:37,598 --> 00:17:39,433 That was close. 272 00:17:39,516 --> 00:17:41,769 NARRATOR: Just as things are getting busy below, 273 00:17:41,852 --> 00:17:44,354 the team on deck throw in the tuna head. 274 00:17:57,076 --> 00:17:58,911 CLUA (over radio): It's a female. 275 00:18:03,123 --> 00:18:05,000 Big shark! 276 00:18:12,591 --> 00:18:15,052 (dramatic music) 277 00:18:17,763 --> 00:18:21,266 (tense music) 278 00:18:22,392 --> 00:18:24,728 CLUA (over radio): This is incredible. 279 00:18:28,899 --> 00:18:30,651 She bit through the rope! 280 00:18:31,860 --> 00:18:33,946 Did you see that? 281 00:18:34,905 --> 00:18:37,658 Okay. We can get a DNA sample from that. 282 00:18:39,034 --> 00:18:43,539 NARRATOR: Even underwater, traces of genetic material from the shark's mouth 283 00:18:43,622 --> 00:18:48,418 will remain on the rope, providing invaluable DNA for the scientists. 284 00:18:49,253 --> 00:18:52,548 Yes. That-- That piece. That piece is okay. Was very good. 285 00:18:53,215 --> 00:18:54,800 Amazing! 286 00:18:54,883 --> 00:18:57,803 SEGUIGNE: Some of the sharks are really well marked on the dorsal fin, 287 00:18:57,886 --> 00:18:59,930 so we can recognize them quite well. 288 00:19:01,098 --> 00:19:02,432 CLUA: Very impressive! 289 00:19:02,516 --> 00:19:06,687 Very exciting to see these large animals coming from nowhere. 290 00:19:07,521 --> 00:19:09,898 NARRATOR: The females are taking over the show. 291 00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:14,027 CLUA: A big female came, she was bolder actually than the others. 292 00:19:14,111 --> 00:19:19,408 She came, she took it, but then she left a nice piece of saliva on the rope. 293 00:19:20,159 --> 00:19:21,451 Very good. It worked. 294 00:19:21,535 --> 00:19:24,538 SEGUIGNE: We have photo of all of these sharks. 295 00:19:25,038 --> 00:19:27,583 We have the behavior of all of these sharks. 296 00:19:27,666 --> 00:19:33,297 And so we will be able to link pictures and behavior with DNA. 297 00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:34,756 And that's really interesting, 298 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:39,052 because if some sharks are sharing the same behavior and the same DNA, 299 00:19:39,469 --> 00:19:41,680 we will know that they will be related. 300 00:19:41,763 --> 00:19:43,682 And that's a new discovery for us. 301 00:19:44,683 --> 00:19:46,560 CLUA: We can better understand this link, 302 00:19:46,643 --> 00:19:48,604 potential link between behavior and genetics. 303 00:19:49,688 --> 00:19:52,941 NARRATOR: To identify a relationship between genetics and personality, 304 00:19:53,609 --> 00:19:58,697 Eric and Clementine must use every chance they have to collect more samples. 305 00:20:00,073 --> 00:20:02,826 Back at base, Thomas reviews the day's activities 306 00:20:02,910 --> 00:20:06,538 to further develop his understanding of the tiger sharks' personalities. 307 00:20:06,622 --> 00:20:08,248 VIGNAUD: Two sharks are going for the food. 308 00:20:10,167 --> 00:20:11,501 This one is just swimming off. 309 00:20:12,669 --> 00:20:14,421 -He's giving up giving up straightaway. -Yeah. 310 00:20:14,504 --> 00:20:16,173 VIGNAUD: The shark is pushing the rock, 311 00:20:16,256 --> 00:20:18,967 even biting to move the rocks away to get access to the food. 312 00:20:19,051 --> 00:20:21,136 -It's impressive behavior. -It's amazing. 313 00:20:22,846 --> 00:20:24,264 Ah, I love this shark. 314 00:20:24,348 --> 00:20:26,016 She-- She's so gentle, you know, 315 00:20:26,099 --> 00:20:28,936 only a few hours with her and you can already feel her personality. 316 00:20:31,313 --> 00:20:34,316 Look at all those sharks. There's really great group dynamics. 317 00:20:34,983 --> 00:20:37,903 You can see the smaller ones that are a little bit more away, 318 00:20:37,986 --> 00:20:40,322 but the big ones are dominating the central space. 319 00:20:40,405 --> 00:20:43,116 CLUA: Well, actually, I will feel very safe too, you know, 320 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:44,993 if I was a four-meter-long shark. 321 00:20:45,077 --> 00:20:46,453 VIGNAUD: (laughs) True. Me too. 322 00:20:47,371 --> 00:20:50,999 This is such a cool place. So many sharks in just one dive. 323 00:20:51,083 --> 00:20:54,670 So many displays of different personalities. I mean, this is great. 324 00:20:58,590 --> 00:21:02,094 NARRATOR: In Mossel Bay, Alison is still waiting for an opportunity 325 00:21:02,177 --> 00:21:04,137 to tag a female white shark. 326 00:21:08,892 --> 00:21:10,227 -MAN: Keep on going? -Yeah. 327 00:21:10,310 --> 00:21:13,689 NARRATOR: The team set out to try a new area away from Seal Island. 328 00:21:16,858 --> 00:21:19,987 (tense music) 329 00:21:20,654 --> 00:21:24,241 Sharks are known to patrol the reef here, closer to shore. 330 00:21:24,324 --> 00:21:25,784 All right, Justin. Neutral. 331 00:21:28,203 --> 00:21:29,871 NARRATOR: With fewer seals around, 332 00:21:29,955 --> 00:21:34,001 it's possible that the sharks are less frenzied, making them easier to tag. 333 00:21:34,584 --> 00:21:38,588 (suspenseful music) 334 00:21:40,966 --> 00:21:42,384 Oh, shark! 335 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,264 NARRATOR: Alison must act fast, choosing her moment. 336 00:21:48,015 --> 00:21:51,810 TOWNER: We've got a beautiful, big, female great white shark that's just arrived. 337 00:21:51,893 --> 00:21:54,062 She came right under the boat here and surprised us. 338 00:21:54,688 --> 00:21:58,317 And then, I'm just gonna try and stick the transmitter right next to her fin. 339 00:22:02,946 --> 00:22:05,907 (tense music) 340 00:22:13,415 --> 00:22:14,916 MAN: You can pull it back. 341 00:22:16,001 --> 00:22:16,877 TOWNER: Woah! 342 00:22:18,253 --> 00:22:19,796 It's actually lining up the stars, 343 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:21,715 you need her to come past perfectly at the right time, 344 00:22:22,632 --> 00:22:24,176 with the dorsal out of the water. 345 00:22:25,844 --> 00:22:28,972 (intense music) 346 00:22:32,309 --> 00:22:34,811 Okay, okay, okay. Here we go, here we go! 347 00:22:37,356 --> 00:22:39,858 Yes! It's in! Woo! 348 00:22:40,776 --> 00:22:43,612 NARRATOR: Alison attaches the tag to the shark's dorsal fin, 349 00:22:44,154 --> 00:22:46,448 a huge success for the expedition. 350 00:22:46,531 --> 00:22:48,992 Even though it looks a little bit invasive deploying these tags, 351 00:22:49,076 --> 00:22:50,786 they heal very quickly. 352 00:22:51,787 --> 00:22:55,290 NARRATOR: Flesh wounds are common in sharks, especially in females 353 00:22:55,374 --> 00:22:58,543 whose skin grows up to twice as thick as the males, 354 00:22:58,627 --> 00:23:01,380 protecting them from bites inflicted during mating. 355 00:23:02,589 --> 00:23:05,550 So active tracking, it's almost like you're in the mind of the shark. 356 00:23:05,634 --> 00:23:08,970 You actually get such a feel for what the shark is doing naturally. 357 00:23:09,805 --> 00:23:11,098 You're in their world. 358 00:23:12,557 --> 00:23:15,102 NARRATOR: Now, the team must track the shark's signal 359 00:23:15,185 --> 00:23:19,272 to try to find out where and possibly what she is hunting. 360 00:23:27,614 --> 00:23:29,616 (signal crackling) 361 00:23:29,699 --> 00:23:31,076 It's a very weak signal. 362 00:23:31,493 --> 00:23:33,912 I just thought maybe I was getting a ping from down here. 363 00:23:33,995 --> 00:23:36,206 And it would have made sense that she beelined inshore. 364 00:23:37,916 --> 00:23:40,627 We spent so much time trying to get that tag on that shark, 365 00:23:40,710 --> 00:23:43,004 and we just couldn't get to her soon enough to-- to get a track. 366 00:23:44,798 --> 00:23:46,133 NARRATOR: With no time to waste, 367 00:23:46,216 --> 00:23:49,928 the team set out on a mission to find the tagged female shark. 368 00:23:50,762 --> 00:23:55,892 With an abundance of prey across the bay, this shark could be anywhere. 369 00:23:57,436 --> 00:24:00,772 BURGESS: The white shark, which generally prefers cooler waters, 370 00:24:00,856 --> 00:24:02,816 tends to go after sea mammals. 371 00:24:03,650 --> 00:24:06,361 Considering they have to come to the surface to breathe, 372 00:24:06,445 --> 00:24:09,573 if you're a predator, the perfect time to get one of those animals 373 00:24:09,656 --> 00:24:11,366 is when their head's sticking out of the water. 374 00:24:12,826 --> 00:24:16,580 Investigative bites have been demonstrated in the white shark in particular. 375 00:24:17,747 --> 00:24:20,542 A quick try to grab something at the water's surface 376 00:24:20,625 --> 00:24:23,670 to determine what it is, whether it's edible or not. 377 00:24:24,421 --> 00:24:28,049 "It's acting like the right kind of thing, it's the right size, and I'm hungry." 378 00:24:31,011 --> 00:24:34,097 NARRATOR: Both mistaken identities and investigative bites 379 00:24:34,181 --> 00:24:39,728 could account for a proportion of attacks every year, but Eric has another theory. 380 00:24:44,316 --> 00:24:48,612 CLUA: There was the case of a tiger shark in Papua New Guinea 381 00:24:48,695 --> 00:24:52,574 that perpetrated up to 12 attacks on humans. 382 00:24:53,325 --> 00:24:56,745 (dramatic music) 383 00:24:59,623 --> 00:25:06,630 Without knowing the gender of the animal, people called that animal "big boy." 384 00:25:07,756 --> 00:25:11,927 In lots of cases, after an attack, the gender of the shark is not known, 385 00:25:12,594 --> 00:25:14,930 but I have the strong feeling that in most cases, 386 00:25:15,347 --> 00:25:17,766 females are responsible for these attacks. 387 00:25:18,350 --> 00:25:21,102 Given the size of this shark, 388 00:25:21,186 --> 00:25:27,359 instead of calling him "big boy," they should have called her "big girl." 389 00:25:32,531 --> 00:25:34,032 BURGESS: In the year 2021, 390 00:25:34,115 --> 00:25:37,911 the International Shark Attack File reported 73 incidents 391 00:25:37,994 --> 00:25:43,792 of unprovoked shark attack worldwide, resulting in a very high number of deaths. 392 00:25:44,292 --> 00:25:46,962 But we have essentially no information at all 393 00:25:47,045 --> 00:25:49,631 on the sex of attacking sharks on humans. 394 00:25:50,131 --> 00:25:54,344 But an attack by a larger animal, which would more likely be a female, 395 00:25:54,427 --> 00:25:57,138 is likely to cause greater damage or greater harm. 396 00:25:57,222 --> 00:26:00,058 NARRATOR: Could these monstrous females be more confident 397 00:26:00,141 --> 00:26:03,937 due to their superior size, making them more likely to attack? 398 00:26:07,190 --> 00:26:10,610 The team hopes to collect the genetic material of such a shark. 399 00:26:11,778 --> 00:26:15,323 A bold, 14-foot-long female takes the bait. 400 00:26:16,199 --> 00:26:19,411 CLUA: It is very important for us not only to get samples of DNA, 401 00:26:19,494 --> 00:26:22,747 but also to know who they belong to, and to make the link 402 00:26:22,831 --> 00:26:26,751 between the personality and the genetics of the sharks. 403 00:26:29,421 --> 00:26:32,924 CLUA (over radio): This is a feeding frenzy. Get out of there. 404 00:26:33,883 --> 00:26:36,553 Wait! It's a tooth! 405 00:26:37,137 --> 00:26:40,223 NARRATOR: Eric sees a tooth fall from the large female's mouth. 406 00:26:41,725 --> 00:26:44,394 It holds the DNA the team is looking for. 407 00:26:47,647 --> 00:26:49,316 CLUA: When you're surrounded by so many sharks, 408 00:26:49,399 --> 00:26:53,028 it's very difficult when you're underwater to make sure you can see 360 around you. 409 00:26:53,111 --> 00:26:54,863 Actually, it's-- it's impossible. 410 00:26:54,946 --> 00:26:58,074 NARRATOR: It is critical for Eric and Clementine to work together, 411 00:26:58,158 --> 00:27:01,286 watching each other's backs, as they look out for the tooth. 412 00:27:01,369 --> 00:27:03,705 CLUA: You should not allow a shark to come into the group 413 00:27:03,788 --> 00:27:05,206 because then you're in trouble. 414 00:27:06,958 --> 00:27:10,295 These animals, they have an amazing pressure in their jaw. 415 00:27:10,378 --> 00:27:13,590 It's about half a ton per square centimeter. 416 00:27:13,673 --> 00:27:16,551 You can imagine, these teeth, the damage they can do. 417 00:27:16,635 --> 00:27:18,261 I prefer that not to happen to me. 418 00:27:19,346 --> 00:27:22,349 CLUA (over radio): This is too dangerous. 419 00:27:25,060 --> 00:27:27,062 (dramatic music) 420 00:27:29,147 --> 00:27:31,149 (ambient music) 421 00:27:32,025 --> 00:27:35,070 NARRATOR: Eric is determined to find the tiger shark tooth. 422 00:27:35,153 --> 00:27:38,448 (intense music) 423 00:27:51,753 --> 00:27:54,547 CLUA (over radio): Look at this tooth! 424 00:27:56,049 --> 00:27:57,467 Perfect. 425 00:28:01,596 --> 00:28:02,681 Wow! 426 00:28:04,683 --> 00:28:05,850 We've got them. 427 00:28:05,934 --> 00:28:08,645 Big females. And very bold, you know? 428 00:28:09,187 --> 00:28:12,524 One of the shark had to struggle to get the head 429 00:28:12,607 --> 00:28:16,361 and I saw one tooth falling out, and I was able to retrieve. 430 00:28:17,237 --> 00:28:19,322 That tooth is from the first large female 431 00:28:19,406 --> 00:28:21,700 that came and grab, you know, the tuna head. 432 00:28:21,783 --> 00:28:25,078 NARRATOR: This tooth will be sent back to the lab for analysis. 433 00:28:25,495 --> 00:28:28,248 Could she be related to the shark that bit through the rope? 434 00:28:29,582 --> 00:28:31,793 With Thomas' ongoing ethogram studies 435 00:28:31,876 --> 00:28:34,546 and Eric and Clementine's genetic approach combined, 436 00:28:35,130 --> 00:28:38,842 the team in Fuvahmulah are gaining unique insight into the sharks here. 437 00:28:40,301 --> 00:28:44,139 This multidisciplinary study could potentially hold the secret 438 00:28:44,222 --> 00:28:47,934 to identifying what it takes to be a problem individual. 439 00:28:49,686 --> 00:28:51,396 Whether problem shark or not, 440 00:28:51,479 --> 00:28:54,274 when it comes to finding the queen of the waves, 441 00:28:54,357 --> 00:28:57,610 Alison's theory is simple: size rules. 442 00:28:58,611 --> 00:29:04,075 She firmly believes there is a direct correlation between size and dominance. 443 00:29:04,159 --> 00:29:06,494 TOWNER: One thing I've observed with great white sharks, 444 00:29:06,578 --> 00:29:08,621 if a large female comes on the scene, 445 00:29:08,705 --> 00:29:12,834 and there are other smaller white sharks around her, they move out the way. 446 00:29:13,418 --> 00:29:17,213 And it's almost like she's aware of her own presence and power as well. 447 00:29:17,297 --> 00:29:19,549 So certainly the females assert their dominance, 448 00:29:19,632 --> 00:29:21,551 and it's absolutely spectacular to see. 449 00:29:22,469 --> 00:29:26,639 NARRATOR: These super-sized females are the largest predatory fish in the ocean. 450 00:29:27,849 --> 00:29:30,685 Could they be defending a nursery to protect their young? 451 00:29:31,686 --> 00:29:33,730 TOWNER: Would a mother shark be more aggressive? 452 00:29:33,813 --> 00:29:35,440 Uh, not that we know of. 453 00:29:35,523 --> 00:29:37,776 There's absolutely no mother-nurturing 454 00:29:37,859 --> 00:29:39,569 when it comes to delivering pups as white sharks. 455 00:29:40,195 --> 00:29:43,865 When they drop their pups, off the pups go, fully self-sufficient. 456 00:29:45,408 --> 00:29:50,288 Nobody has ever seen or documented great white sharks giving birth or mating 457 00:29:50,371 --> 00:29:52,624 anywhere on the planet. It's like the holy grail. 458 00:29:56,044 --> 00:29:59,923 NARRATOR: But what about pregnant sharks? Could they be more aggressive? 459 00:30:01,257 --> 00:30:06,554 Thomas is keen to track one down to assess its personality and find out. 460 00:30:13,937 --> 00:30:17,524 VIGNAUD (over radio): There are two sharks coming from the depths. 461 00:30:17,982 --> 00:30:23,029 Here we have 1, 2... I see a third one coming. 462 00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:27,283 There are loads of sharks. 463 00:30:31,788 --> 00:30:34,082 NARRATOR: Suddenly the sharks swim away. 464 00:30:37,335 --> 00:30:39,087 Has something scared them off? 465 00:30:43,174 --> 00:30:45,802 (tense music) 466 00:30:46,469 --> 00:30:50,682 A 14-foot-long tiger shark emerges from the deep, 467 00:30:50,765 --> 00:30:53,226 one of the largest of the expedition so far. 468 00:30:53,309 --> 00:30:54,477 VIGNAUD (over radio): Oh, wow. 469 00:30:54,561 --> 00:30:57,188 NARRATOR: And she's pregnant. 470 00:30:57,272 --> 00:30:59,440 VIGNAUD (over radio): She's definitely the dominant female. 471 00:30:59,524 --> 00:31:02,735 NARRATOR: Female tigers can carry more than 30 pups. 472 00:31:07,282 --> 00:31:09,117 This encounter is short-lived, 473 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,412 and before Thomas has a chance to assess her personality, 474 00:31:12,495 --> 00:31:14,330 she melts into the shadows. 475 00:31:15,707 --> 00:31:21,004 Although bold, it seems this mother-to-be is not so voracious after all. 476 00:31:22,171 --> 00:31:24,674 It's pretty well understood that pregnant females, 477 00:31:24,757 --> 00:31:26,926 when they're in the areas where they're birthing, are not feeding. 478 00:31:27,927 --> 00:31:29,387 We've seen time and time again, 479 00:31:29,470 --> 00:31:32,640 where female sharks that are pregnant and getting ready to give birth, 480 00:31:32,724 --> 00:31:34,267 ignore humans completely. 481 00:31:34,350 --> 00:31:37,896 I'm unaware of any attack that has ever occurred with a pregnant shark. 482 00:31:39,314 --> 00:31:40,398 TOWNER: One scientific theory 483 00:31:40,481 --> 00:31:44,444 is that possibly they have hormones in the late-term of their pregnancy 484 00:31:44,527 --> 00:31:48,114 that inhibit them feeding to prevent them from preying on their own young. 485 00:31:48,781 --> 00:31:52,327 Could it be that a large, female white shark that's just given birth 486 00:31:52,410 --> 00:31:53,912 and is now seeking prey, 487 00:31:53,995 --> 00:31:56,581 maybe, sort of, less selective on what she's eating? 488 00:31:56,664 --> 00:31:59,542 Difficult to support, but certainly something to consider. 489 00:31:59,626 --> 00:32:02,795 Look, if you told me I wasn't eating for the last term of my pregnancy, 490 00:32:02,879 --> 00:32:06,215 and I gave birth, I would be seriously hungry at the end of that, 491 00:32:06,299 --> 00:32:08,176 and I'd certainly be looking for a meal. 492 00:32:11,554 --> 00:32:14,265 NARRATOR: Alison continues the search for the tagged shark. 493 00:32:14,349 --> 00:32:17,310 (signal crackling) 494 00:32:23,358 --> 00:32:24,525 TOWNER: She's very far away, 495 00:32:25,985 --> 00:32:27,737 but I think I'm starting to get some pings. 496 00:32:29,447 --> 00:32:31,074 (tense music) 497 00:32:33,159 --> 00:32:36,162 (signal cracking) 498 00:32:41,793 --> 00:32:44,253 (signal crackling) 499 00:32:44,337 --> 00:32:47,715 Here she is! We've got a signal... and a good one. 500 00:32:49,717 --> 00:32:52,178 So now we're gonna quickly change hydrophones. 501 00:32:52,261 --> 00:32:54,681 And we're going to see if we can get a directional track on her, 502 00:32:54,764 --> 00:32:56,808 so that we can get positions and follow her around. 503 00:32:58,893 --> 00:33:02,063 We know she's within 500 meters of the boat somewhere. 504 00:33:03,356 --> 00:33:06,275 NARRATOR: Alison moves quickly to get a bearing on the shark, 505 00:33:06,359 --> 00:33:08,277 before she loses signal again. 506 00:33:10,071 --> 00:33:12,365 (signal crackling) 507 00:33:12,448 --> 00:33:14,993 Yeah, she's over here, about one o'clock. 508 00:33:15,076 --> 00:33:16,494 But if we don't go, we're going to lose her. 509 00:33:16,577 --> 00:33:17,453 Let's go. 510 00:33:19,747 --> 00:33:22,166 -(signal crackling) -She's there. 511 00:33:24,043 --> 00:33:27,338 NARRATOR: The team are just over half a mile from the shore. 512 00:33:28,589 --> 00:33:31,801 TOWNER: Who knew she'd be down here all this way from where we saw her? 513 00:33:33,636 --> 00:33:36,806 One thing I love about these female sharks is that they're just so unpredictable. 514 00:33:36,889 --> 00:33:38,558 One is not exactly really like the other, 515 00:33:38,641 --> 00:33:41,269 so they'll constantly keep you on your toes. 516 00:33:43,062 --> 00:33:46,524 -Okay, she's just over there now. -TOWNER: Okay. Let's go neutral. 517 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:48,985 -MAN: 22... -TOWNER: Yes. 518 00:33:49,068 --> 00:33:52,030 MAN: 07, 5, 11. 519 00:33:52,947 --> 00:33:55,908 It's like the ultimate game of hide and seek with a great white, isn't it? 520 00:34:02,832 --> 00:34:04,292 NARRATOR: Alison continues the hunt. 521 00:34:04,375 --> 00:34:09,547 Even with a tag, finding a single shark in the ocean is far from easy. 522 00:34:09,630 --> 00:34:14,427 So when it comes to attacks, finding the perpetrator is extremely difficult. 523 00:34:17,597 --> 00:34:21,267 Most sharks that are biting humans are gone after they bite. 524 00:34:21,350 --> 00:34:24,520 -REPORTER: Danger in the surf. -BURGESS: We have virtually no confidence 525 00:34:24,604 --> 00:34:28,107 in the identification of a shark or its size for most victims. 526 00:34:29,317 --> 00:34:31,360 I'm aware of three different times 527 00:34:31,444 --> 00:34:34,989 where an individual shark could be documented or hypothesized 528 00:34:35,073 --> 00:34:37,825 as attacking more than once within a short period of time. 529 00:34:38,576 --> 00:34:41,204 That's out of thousands that we've documented. 530 00:34:42,705 --> 00:34:45,708 (dramatic music) 531 00:34:50,797 --> 00:34:53,091 NARRATOR: But Eric is on the trail of one shark 532 00:34:53,174 --> 00:34:55,510 which he believes is a repeat offender. 533 00:34:56,511 --> 00:35:00,598 CLUA: In December 2020, there was a fatal attack in Saint Martin. 534 00:35:02,350 --> 00:35:06,729 And one month later, there was a second attack, which was almost fatal. 535 00:35:07,980 --> 00:35:12,819 These two attacks happened only 85 kilometers from each other. 536 00:35:13,986 --> 00:35:16,697 NARRATOR: This is in an area where there have been no fatal attacks 537 00:35:16,781 --> 00:35:18,282 in recent history. 538 00:35:18,533 --> 00:35:20,451 But are these two incidents linked? 539 00:35:21,452 --> 00:35:24,080 CLUA: We were able to prove that it was a tiger shark. 540 00:35:24,997 --> 00:35:28,084 And now, we have ongoing genetic analysis 541 00:35:28,167 --> 00:35:32,630 that should allow us to prove that actually, it is the same individual. 542 00:35:34,382 --> 00:35:37,385 NARRATOR: The techniques Eric is employing in the Caribbean 543 00:35:37,468 --> 00:35:40,847 could one day expose soon-to-be problem sharks. 544 00:35:45,017 --> 00:35:50,064 CLUA: The central question is: Why a shark will bite a human being? 545 00:35:51,482 --> 00:35:53,317 But actually, it's not the right question. 546 00:35:53,401 --> 00:35:57,405 The right question will be: Why that shark bit a human being? 547 00:35:58,322 --> 00:36:02,702 What make that shark different from the other sharks? 548 00:36:03,619 --> 00:36:07,498 To understand that, we have to take the different components of shark behavior. 549 00:36:08,416 --> 00:36:13,296 Dominance will, of course, be directly linked to the size of the shark. 550 00:36:13,379 --> 00:36:17,675 But personality will also play a critical role for that dominance. 551 00:36:19,010 --> 00:36:21,304 We want to identify the dominant animals 552 00:36:21,387 --> 00:36:23,931 that dare participate directly to-- to the feeding frenzy. 553 00:36:24,515 --> 00:36:25,725 Stay safe, okay? 554 00:36:25,808 --> 00:36:28,895 NARRATOR: To identify the dominance hierarchy in this group of sharks, 555 00:36:29,562 --> 00:36:32,899 the team must collect the DNA of the boldest individual 556 00:36:32,982 --> 00:36:34,609 at the top of the pecking order. 557 00:36:38,070 --> 00:36:43,659 This yellowfin tuna weighs 200 pounds and is a substantial prize to claim. 558 00:36:43,743 --> 00:36:45,286 Sending down the tuna. 559 00:36:46,412 --> 00:36:48,414 (intense music) 560 00:36:52,668 --> 00:36:55,171 NARRATOR: The shark that comes in to take this tuna 561 00:36:55,254 --> 00:36:57,215 could well rule the waves here. 562 00:37:12,063 --> 00:37:15,608 The team don't have to wait long before they have a contender. 563 00:37:19,278 --> 00:37:22,281 (suspenseful music) 564 00:37:32,041 --> 00:37:35,044 (intense music) 565 00:37:37,129 --> 00:37:40,132 (dramatic music) 566 00:37:40,841 --> 00:37:45,638 CLUA (over radio): This is crazy. (laughing) 567 00:37:45,721 --> 00:37:47,515 She took the whole thing. 568 00:37:47,598 --> 00:37:50,726 VIGNAUD (over radio): I think this one is our queen. 569 00:37:50,810 --> 00:37:53,604 CLUA (over radio): That is a very confident shark. 570 00:37:56,357 --> 00:37:59,735 Amazing, amazing. That was a great experience. 571 00:38:00,361 --> 00:38:02,780 Thank you very much, guys. 572 00:38:02,863 --> 00:38:06,701 Ah! We got it! We got our queen! 573 00:38:07,451 --> 00:38:12,081 It took time, but we made it. Wow! That was amazing! 574 00:38:13,249 --> 00:38:15,668 At the beginning, there was something like 10 sharks. 575 00:38:16,168 --> 00:38:18,421 Among them, there was two large females. 576 00:38:19,422 --> 00:38:26,304 Then suddenly, one very impressive, enormous, large female came. 577 00:38:26,387 --> 00:38:30,516 Wow, I think at least 16, I would say even 17, feet you know. 578 00:38:31,100 --> 00:38:33,853 Yesterday, it was a princess. That is the real queen. 579 00:38:34,270 --> 00:38:35,104 That is the Big Mama. 580 00:38:35,187 --> 00:38:36,856 NARRATOR: The team have found a dominant shark, 581 00:38:38,024 --> 00:38:40,443 but with no genetic material collected this time, 582 00:38:40,943 --> 00:38:43,029 there is still a lot to learn about her. 583 00:38:43,112 --> 00:38:47,283 SEGUIGNE: All the sharks, they move away, they let the queen come to the bait. 584 00:38:48,117 --> 00:38:50,328 She definitely rules the sharks. 585 00:38:50,911 --> 00:38:54,999 NARRATOR: She is enormous. She is confident. She is female. 586 00:38:56,917 --> 00:39:01,589 But do these factors make similar sharks more likely to become problem individuals? 587 00:39:02,089 --> 00:39:04,759 CLUA: They need to be bold, but that's not even enough. 588 00:39:04,842 --> 00:39:08,804 To feed on a human, you also need positive reinforcement 589 00:39:08,888 --> 00:39:10,556 through your own experience. 590 00:39:11,474 --> 00:39:14,268 NARRATOR: A bolder shark could be more likely to experiment 591 00:39:14,352 --> 00:39:16,354 with larger, riskier prey items. 592 00:39:17,980 --> 00:39:20,399 If unharmed and rewarded with a meal, 593 00:39:20,483 --> 00:39:24,653 it is conditioned through this experience to keep trying larger prey. 594 00:39:30,409 --> 00:39:32,953 But if the animal does not have a positive experience 595 00:39:33,037 --> 00:39:37,291 and is hurt or frightened, it may think twice before trying again. 596 00:39:39,418 --> 00:39:43,839 Thomas believes that using this principle could mitigate against problem sharks. 597 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:46,175 VIGNAUD: When I work with bull sharks, 598 00:39:46,550 --> 00:39:48,052 I have this special sound I use to scare them 599 00:39:48,135 --> 00:39:49,804 to do negative reinforcement, 600 00:39:50,388 --> 00:39:52,306 teach them this is not something I want you to do. 601 00:39:57,269 --> 00:40:00,272 I was using a variant of the Doppler Effect. 602 00:40:00,356 --> 00:40:01,857 (imitates cracking) 603 00:40:01,941 --> 00:40:04,318 So you feel like something is going after you really fast 604 00:40:04,402 --> 00:40:05,528 even though I'm not moving. 605 00:40:05,611 --> 00:40:07,905 VIGNAUD (over radio): I'm going to try to scare this shark now. 606 00:40:08,906 --> 00:40:11,909 KKKRRFFF! 607 00:40:13,202 --> 00:40:14,537 They don't seem to react. 608 00:40:14,620 --> 00:40:17,081 It worked with bull shark, but it doesn't seem to work with tigers. 609 00:40:18,165 --> 00:40:20,751 I've tried many occasions in Fuvahmulah, 610 00:40:20,835 --> 00:40:24,380 and because tiger sharks evolved to be more vision and smell, 611 00:40:24,463 --> 00:40:26,465 maybe they don't react to sound as much. 612 00:40:27,716 --> 00:40:30,386 NARRATOR: Whether or not conditioning sharks works as a deterrent, 613 00:40:31,053 --> 00:40:34,348 perhaps shark personality should be given more consideration 614 00:40:34,432 --> 00:40:36,517 when it comes to human-shark conflict. 615 00:40:42,815 --> 00:40:45,484 CLUA: I don't like the mistaken identity concept. 616 00:40:46,068 --> 00:40:50,030 Because it means that all the sharks around the world could make a mistake, 617 00:40:51,949 --> 00:40:54,618 all sharks potentially represent a danger. 618 00:40:55,453 --> 00:41:01,333 On the contrary, 99.9% of sharks will never represent a real danger for people. 619 00:41:02,001 --> 00:41:08,591 Only 0.01 may represent a danger. And these are the problem individuals. 620 00:41:10,301 --> 00:41:13,512 NARRATOR: If sharks do have individual, heritable personalities, 621 00:41:14,013 --> 00:41:17,099 might this change our approach to shark attacks? 622 00:41:19,185 --> 00:41:22,438 CLUA: Still the main strategy to manage human fatalities 623 00:41:22,521 --> 00:41:26,901 is to cull sharks blindly, without any selectivity. 624 00:41:28,194 --> 00:41:33,199 If we manage to prove that the hypothesis of the problem individual is true, 625 00:41:33,282 --> 00:41:36,619 it means we don't have a problem with sharks. 626 00:41:36,702 --> 00:41:40,164 We have just a problem with very few individuals. 627 00:41:48,756 --> 00:41:51,133 VIGNAUD (over radio): Ah, she is so beautiful. 628 00:41:51,217 --> 00:41:52,676 Sharks are sentient beings, 629 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:55,763 and they deserve respect as much as any other animals. 630 00:41:57,973 --> 00:41:59,892 TOWNER: They absolutely have their own personalities, 631 00:41:59,975 --> 00:42:01,977 and I think that is such a fascinating trait. 632 00:42:03,187 --> 00:42:05,814 VIGNAUD: It shows they also have thoughts and maybe emotions. 633 00:42:07,107 --> 00:42:10,819 TOWNER: Do sharks have feelings? I imagine they do feel pain. 634 00:42:10,903 --> 00:42:15,616 But if they got the emotional complexity that we human beings tie to feelings, 635 00:42:15,699 --> 00:42:19,078 that's a whole different level of science. But you never know. 636 00:42:24,083 --> 00:42:26,794 Can you believe it, it's her! Look at this! 637 00:42:26,877 --> 00:42:28,629 (scanner pinging) 638 00:42:28,712 --> 00:42:32,424 She is a good kilometer and a half away from where we tagged her. 639 00:42:33,551 --> 00:42:37,263 So close to shore, you can actually see a bunch of people on the beach. 640 00:42:37,346 --> 00:42:39,473 And this animal is just doing what it does naturally. 641 00:42:39,557 --> 00:42:40,933 It's patrolling the reef here. 642 00:42:42,059 --> 00:42:44,895 If they knew what we were tracking right behind the surf here... 643 00:42:45,646 --> 00:42:48,566 It just goes to show coexistence is ultimately possible. 644 00:42:48,649 --> 00:42:50,401 In fact, it happens more than we know it. 645 00:42:53,904 --> 00:42:55,990 NARRATOR: Eric and Clementine must wait for the results 646 00:42:56,073 --> 00:42:58,033 of their ongoing genetic analyses, 647 00:42:58,617 --> 00:43:01,704 which they hope will prove that personality is inherited, 648 00:43:01,787 --> 00:43:04,164 and support their problem-individual theory. 649 00:43:04,832 --> 00:43:07,710 SEGUIGNE: My dream is to understand better the behavior of sharks 650 00:43:07,793 --> 00:43:11,755 to improve the relationships between humans and these animals. 651 00:43:11,839 --> 00:43:15,342 Shark are not the man-eater that we think they are. 652 00:43:16,552 --> 00:43:19,054 As a new generation of marine biologists, 653 00:43:19,138 --> 00:43:22,766 it's up to us to protect sharks for generation to come. 654 00:43:24,935 --> 00:43:27,021 VIGNAUD: Because of the million of years of evolution, 655 00:43:27,104 --> 00:43:32,151 females have grown so much stronger, so much more resistant than males. 656 00:43:36,363 --> 00:43:40,326 In the world of sharks, the rulers are the queen and not the king. 657 00:43:40,909 --> 00:43:44,330 VIGNAUD: Their skin is thicker than the males. They grow larger than the males. 658 00:43:44,413 --> 00:43:47,166 They live longer than the males, and they outnumber the males. 659 00:43:48,459 --> 00:43:50,294 The females are 100% dominant. 660 00:43:52,963 --> 00:43:57,092 CLUA: Here in Fuvahmulah, we definitely met a shark queen. 661 00:43:58,177 --> 00:44:02,640 I hope that she and her fellow queens will continue to rule our oceans 662 00:44:02,723 --> 00:44:04,642 for the many years to come. 663 00:44:06,769 --> 00:44:09,063 VIGNAUD: Long live the Queen.