Tayane Dalazen is 37 years old, a lawyer, and lives in São Paulo, Brazil.
In April of this year, she went into the water off the Brazilian coast to film the dive she imagined would be perfect for her social media. The tour organizers fed the sharks to attract them toward the tourists, and among them appeared a nurse shark more than two meters long. The bite left deep lacerations on her thigh, was captured in full, and has now accumulated millions of views.
Scientist Kristian Parton, creator of the Shark Bytes channel, says he sees videos like this every week: people touching or invading the space of tiger sharks and even great whites, not just docile species. Studies cited by experts show that human contact triggers stress hormones in these animals that weaken their immune system and affect their reproduction. In the Maldives, more than 140 excursions already operate, selling the experience as the ‘ultimate selfie’, while authorities in different countries are beginning to warn about the risks of bringing bait close to the shores just to get a shot.
