WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Every year as summer approaches, the world’s fascination with sharks resurfaces and every year we hear about a shark encounter that makes us wonder whether it is safe to go back in the water. And despite the news from this weekend, the fact is that your chance of getting attacked by a shark in your lifetime is 1 in 11,000,000 (Source). So it turns out that it is safe to go back in the water, as long you’ve got the facts – and Nat Geo WILD presents just that in the world premiere special United Sharks of America.
United Sharks of America is part of premiere night for Nat Geo WILD’s third annual SharkFest, which focuses on the world’s shark hotspots, diving into feeding frenzies and exploring the country’s top shark beaches. This week-long event begins Sunday, July 5 at 8/9 c. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com/sharkfest and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/NGC_PR.
United Sharks of America
Premieres Sunday, July 5, at 9/8c
Some
of the most beautiful beaches in the United States also feature the
highest incidences of shark encounters. Filled with the latest shark
facts, United Sharks of America counts down America’s shark hot
spots and offers an essential guide to shark activity and avoidance. The
leading experts deconstruct shark attacks and provide valuable tips to
stay out of their path. Learn about shark hunting techniques, hear from
shark attack survivors and get to know the wide variety of shark species
that thrive along the coastal U.S.
Top Five Shark States Based on Shark Encounters in Last Decade
5 – North Carolina - 25 encounters
4 – California – 31 encounters
3
– South Carolina - 38 encounters
2 – Hawaii - 55 encounters
1
– Florida - 219 encounters
North Carolina, ranking at 5 on the list, saw their number rise this past weekend in a pair of devastating attacks. Their Shark Encounter Stats include:
- 25 attacks in the last decade make North Carolina the fifth top shark state in the United States (Source)
- In 50 years, only one shark-related death has been reported along North Carolina's coast. (Source)
- What's actually really shocking is even though we're in the top five for attacks in the United States, how rare attacks are compared to the number of people using our water and the number of sharks here in our water. (Source: Chuck Bangley, Shark Habitat Researcher, East Carolina University)
United Sharks of America includes important tips for avoiding a shark encounter:
- Learn to read the water where you're about to go in
- Swim in broad daylight and try to stick to clear water
- Get into a group
- Try not to swim near any actively feeding fish
(Source: Chuck Bangley, Shark Habitat Researcher, East Carolina University)
SharkFest Photos for Download:
http://files.natgeonetworks.com/_7y9XJTClb84QkR
SharkFest Video Clips for Download:
US & NORTH CAROLINA
SHARK ENCOUNTER STATISTICS: http://files.natgeonetworks.com/_34vjAtuWz8mQwR
SHARK FEEDING FRENZY: http://files.natgeonetworks.com/_eD3uqL2u58eN0R
- Spinner Shark Feeding Frenzy, Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina
SHARK ENCOUNTERS TIPS AND FACTS:
http://files.natgeonetworks.com/_BD3j_AnEe8RNXR
About Nat Geo WILD
Experience the best, most intimate encounters with wildlife ever seen on television. Backed by its unparalleled reputation for quality and blue-chip programming, Nat Geo WILD is dedicated to providing a unique insight into the natural world, and the amazing creatures that inhabit it. From the most remote environments, to the forbidding depths of our oceans, to the protected parks on our doorsteps, Nat Geo WILD will use spectacular cinematography and compelling storytelling to take viewers on unforgettable journeys into the wild world. Launched in 2006, Nat Geo WILD is part of National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and is available in more than 90 countries and 100 million homes. Nat Geo WILD HD launched in the U.K. in March 2009, and is also available in Greece, Latin America, Poland, Spain and Russia. Further expansion is expected globally. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.
