Recently, Dr. Burns was in
Hawaii. While most of us would spend our
time in paradise soaking up the sun with a tropical beverage in hand, Dr. Burns
seized this opportunity to help an animal in need. While out at sea, Dr. Burns noticed a plastic
bottle on the surface. Upon closer
inspection, he realized that this bottle was attached to a female oceanic white
tip shark.
While it may not seem like much,
this air-filled bottle was keeping this shark at the surface, tiring her, and
would likely result in death.
Unfortunately, fisherman will occasionally do this as retribution to
sharks that take baits and to keep them off their lines.
Dr. Burns and his team were able
to corral her, and his teammate was able to cut her free. She did momentarily “panic” towards Dr. Burns
during the process, but eventually cruised away. The team kept up with her as long as they
could after cutting her free. She
resumed a normal swimming pattern and was rejoined by almost a dozen pilot
fish.
