Each year in Australia, the number of deaths from shark attacks ranges between zero to three deaths. To put this into perspective, more people around the world are killed as a result of falling coconuts or vending machines.
Following a small rise in the number of shark attacks in Western Australia over the past two years, the Western Australian Government has legalised the culling of all sharks over three metres long caught on baited drum lines, in an attempt to reduce the risk of fatal shark attacks.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions from the public, with a scarce amount supporting the Government’s decision. Those who agree feel that the cullings will make swimming at the beach a safer, more relaxing experience.
On the other hand, those who disagree argue that the Government has made a quick decision without doing their research. They say that we will never completely prevent shark attacks and there are other ways to prevent shark attacks without going on a “killing spree”.
The first image presents a rather horrifying image of a dead shark covered in blood, with it’s jaws open showing all of it’s teeth. A man is kneeling down beside the shark with one arm appearing to be resting on the shark.
The shark is a lot bigger than the man in the photo, this is magnified even more by the man kneeling down. The photographer is positioning the viewer to see the shark as a big, scary monster, and the man to be a hero for killing it… as though killing a shark is something to be proud of.
The second photo presents a beautiful scene of healthy green beach shrubbery, with the sand, beach and waves in the background as the water is populated by numerous surfers enjoying the morning waves.
Hard to ignore, however, is the warning sign in the foreground of the image warning beach-goers of a shark sighting. It could be said that these surfers are just plain stupid, but it could also be said that they know how small the