Big Five becomes Big Seven

(Image Source: Shark Life South Africa)

South Africa's Environmental Affairs Minister announced that our Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Buffalo) will get two new marine additions: the Shark and the Whale. The country will start a tourist campaign to promote not only its terrestrial wild life, but now also its marine wild life. If this is a good thing, I do not know.

Marine life is very fragile and a multiplication in marine tourists may not be ideal. I’m also not sure if the planned increase in shark diving is a good thing. It’s only making sharks more and more used to people. The way the shark dive skippers lure the sharks is by pouring blood in the water, and by putting out shark bait. The sharks come, smelling the blood and seeing the scuba divers. Surely in their little brains the synaptic connections between blood and scuba divers are created.Are we not teaching these animals to associate us with food?

Nonetheless, the shark and the whale are two worthy additions to South Africa’s “Greats” -- the Big Seven. It’s just not clear which shark, and which whale? I’m assuming the Great White Shark and the Humpback Whale.