【正文】 nd is in Gansbaai to find out. Ryan Johnson, Shark Researcher: “My research really entails looking at the predatory behavior of the white shark.”Narrator: Biologist Brady Barr is going to acpany Ryan on a visit to Shark Alley. They hope to reveal more about shark behavior and the possible dangers of cage diving for swimmers and surfers. It’s early morning when Ryan and Brady get to Shark Alley. They want to be there before anyone else.Johnson: “These are designed to sort of resemble the natural prey。 the larger prey of the shark.”Narrator: Ryan plans to monitor the sharks’ behavior before the cagedive operators arrive. He’ll then observe whether or not the arrival of the dive boats affects how aggressive the sharks are. Once the decoys are set, all they need to do is wait。 but they have no idea when—or if—a shark will e.Dr. Brady Barr: “There it is! Oh my gosh! Look at that thing!” Narrator: It’s a huge great white.Johnson: “Here he es!”Barr: “What’s he doing, what’s he doing? Oh, man, he’s huge! Look at him! He’s going to go for it! Is that him? Come on, baby! Hit it! Here he es. Here he es. Here he es. Here he es. He’s got it!”Narrator: Ryan rates each shark for aggressiveness by giving it a score from one to five. In the most aggressive attack, a huge shark hits the decoy with such force that part of its body leaves the water.Barr: “Look at the size of that thing! Look at him!”Narrator: This shark receives a rating of five out of five for aggression.Johnson: “He decided to eat it, eh? It’s going to be a long day in the workshop, now.”Narrator: The shark has made a mess of Ryan’s decoy.Johnson: “Not too bad, eh?”Narrator: As the day continues, the cagedive operators begin to appear in Shark Alley and start baiting the sharks to encourage them to approach the cages. Will the bait cause the sharks to bee more aggressive, just as the surfers fear? It takes time for the sharks to react to the arrival of the boats. So, while Ryan continues to monitor the sharks’ behavior, Brady will visit a sharkdiving boat. He wants to see just how the cagedive operators interact with the animals.Barr: “Thank you, my friend, I enjoyed it. Very good.”Narrator: The boat operators prepare the cage and start throwing bait in the water. It’s not long before a big shark appears. Now it’s Brady’s chance.Barr: “Man, that is huge. I want to get in the cage! Can I go? I’m ready! OK, I’m ready.”Dive Boat Operator: “Brady’s ready.”Barr: “I’m ready!”Narrator: Getting into and out of the safety cage is the most dangerous time for the cage diver. One slip and the diver could end up in the water with the shark. Once he’s safely inside the cage, Barr can’t see the shark. He has no idea from which direction the great white will e. Finally, the great shark swims out of the murky depths, but then disappears again into the darkness. Brady has lost sight of the large predator once again, but then suddenly . . . The shark tries to get its massive head between the bars. The attack’s over as quickly as it began. It’s a frightening experience, so Barr wants some fresh air.Dive Boat Operator: “Brady! Go down! Go down! Go down!”Narrator: The shark has silently reappeared. It’s far too dangerous for Barr to leave the cage. He’s trapped. Finally, after a few anxious moments, the shark swims away. Barr can make his escape at last.Dive Boat
Operator: “Go! Go! Go!”Barr: “Woohoo! Oh, man!”Narrator: Back on the research boat, Ryan is finishing up his study regarding cage diving’s impact on sharks. He’s found that the boats do have a shortterm effect on the sharks’ behavior, but it’s the opposite of what one might expect.Johnson: “I think it’s being clear that there is a shortterm impact on their behavior, an immediate impact. When the sharks operators are there with their baits in the water and the shark has an opportunity to e up there and mouth this bait, it does seem to put them more in a scavenging mode of mind.”Narrator: Ryan argues that the sharks’ active hunting instincts may actually be switched off during cage diving. He feels it may be because dead bait is used, which could make the sharks less aggressive. Once the boats leave, the sharks go back to their normal behavior. Ryan has also developed some theories regarding the longterm effects of cage diving. He’s confident that the cage divers are not training sharks to eat people.Johnson: “I’m working with the sharks every day, and truthfully, they don’t stay in this area long. Maybe one day, two max. And no animal can be conditioned when you’ve only got that one day of interaction. I can’t imagine how that can be conditioning in that sense.”Narrator: So, according to Ryan, the shark tourism trend does not lead to more shark attacks, but how does Brady feel after his exciting experience? Both as a biologist and as an active conservationist, Barr is thrilled by what he’s seen and experienced in Shark Alley.Barr: “Everybody I saw that went out on one of those boats stepped off the boat back on the dock and they were just like, ‘Wow, that was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done! Those are incredible animals!’ A day doesn’t go by where I don’t think about my experiences with those animals. I mean, it’s amazing. No matter where I’m at or what I’m doing, at some point, I find my mind drifting back to seeing those great white sharks.”Narrator: In theory, this kind of increased respect could help save an animal that may one day bee extinct due to overfishing and other factors. For many, a visit to Shark Alley is an unforgettable experience and the chance of a lifetime. HOME LISTENINGaudio SCRIPTWele to Shark Central!Shark Central is a website mitted to reducing the world’s fear of sharks. Dangerous Sharks: Where are they? Dangerous sharks can be found almost everywhere including northern Europe, East Asia, and South America. Of the total number of types of sharks