WO2013093844A1

WO2013093844A1 - A shark deterrent apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: WO2013093844A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/057543
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip Roy Kenneth RICHARDSON
Original assignee: Human Wildlife Solutions Close Corporation
Priority date: 2011-12-20
Filing date: 2012-12-20
Publication date: 2013-06-27
Also published as: WO2013093844A4; ZA201404786B

Abstract

A shark deterrent apparatus in the form of a watercraft such as a surfboard (10). The surfboard has an underside (12) which has an outer side edge profile (14). The underside of the surfboard has an elongate generally fusiform shape when viewed in plan view, while the underside has markings (16) thereon which resemble belly markings of an Orca. The underside (12) of the surfboard is in contact with a body of water in a marine environment and is outwardly displayed so as to be visible to a shark swimming in the water. The profile of the underside of the surfboard mimics the fusiform body profile of an Orca while the markings (16) mimic the belly markings of an Orca, thereby to evoke an avoidance response in a shark when the shark perceives the surfboard.

Description

A SHARK DETERRENT APPARATUS AND METHOD

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a shark deterrent apparatus and a method for deterring a shark.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Humans who enter into a marine environment to engage in aquatic activities such as, swimming, paddling and surfing, are vulnerable to attack by sharks.

The applicant is aware of examples in nature of strategies employed by certain animals to avoid falling prey to predators, whereby the animal mimics another animal so as to avoid predation. An example of such a strategy is seen in the Heaviside dolphin {Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) which is preyed upon by sharks. In order to deter predation by sharks the Heaviside dolphin mimics an Orca {Orcinus orca) by displaying markings which resemble the belly markings of the Orca, so as to provide a visual sign stimulus which, when perceived by a shark, invokes an avoidance response in the shark.

In this specification the term "sign stimulus" must be interpreted to mean a component or characteristic of an external stimulus which is effective in initiating a particular innate behavioural response in an animal perceiving it, regardless of the presence or absence of the remainder of the stimulus.

In this specification, any reference to the term "avoidance response" must be interpreted to mean a particular innate behavioural response wherein an animal practices avoidance behaviour or flees in response to detection of a sign stimulus.

The applicant has thus identified a need for a shark deterrent apparatus which can be carried by a human into a marine environment and which includes a visual sign stimulus which, when perceived by a shark invokes an avoidance response in the shark.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a shark deterrent apparatus for deterring a shark from attacking a human in an aquatic marine environment, which is used by the human in the aquatic marine environment, the shark deterrent apparatus having at least one major side which is outwardly displayed and which has a profile having an elongate generally fusiform shape in plan view, the shark deterrent apparatus having markings resembling belly markings of an Orca which are applied to said major side thereof, whereby, in use, said profile of said major side of the shark deterrent apparatus mimics a body profile of an Orca and whereby said markings mimic belly markings of an Orca, such that said profile and said markings together mimic the visual appearance of an Orca, thereby to evoke an avoidance response in a shark when the shark perceives the shark deterrent apparatus, in use.

The markings may cover the entire major side of the shark deterrent apparatus such that an outer peripheral edge of the markings coincides with the side edge profile of the shark deterrent apparatus. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus may be in the form of a watercraft which is used by a human in an aquatic marine environment. More particularly, an underside of the watercraft which is in contact with a body of water in the marine environment may constitute said major side of the apparatus. More particularly, the watercraft may be in the form of one of a boat, surfboard, bodyboard, kayak and a surfski.

In another embodiment, the apparatus may be in the form of swimming apparel which is worn by the human in an aquatic marine environment so as to cover a major portion of the human's body, said major side of the apparatus being defined by a major side of the swimming apparel and said elongate generally fusiform profile of said major side of the apparatus being defined by a profile of said major side of the swimming apparel when the human assumes a bodily position wherein a torso of the human is substantially straight, wherein legs of the human are brought together and wherein arms of the human are positioned at sides of the torso. More particularly, said major side of the swimming apparel may be a front side of the swimming apparel which is worn adjacent a front side of the human's body. Alternatively or additionally, said major side of the swimming apparel may be a rear side of the swimming apparel which is worn adjacent a rear side of the human's body. The swimming apparel may be in the form of one of a wetsuit and a drysuit.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of deterring a shark from attacking a human in an aquatic marine environment, the method including: providing a shark deterrent apparatus having at least one major side which is outwardly displayed and which has a profile having an elongate generally fusiform shape in plan view, the shark deterrent apparatus having markings on said major side of the apparatus which resemble belly markings of an Orca; and using the shark deterrent apparatus in water in an aquatic marine environment, whereby said profile mimics a body profile of an Orca and whereby said markings mimic belly markings of an Orca, such that said profile and said markings together mimic the visual appearance of an Orca, thereby to evoke an avoidance response in a shark when the shark perceives the shark deterrent apparatus, in use.

The markings may cover the entire major side of the shark deterrent apparatus such that an outer peripheral edge of the markings coincides with the side edge profile of the shark deterrent apparatus.

The method may include providing the shark deterrent apparatus in the form of a watercraft which is used by a human in a marine environment. The watercraft may, more particularly, be in the form of one of a boat, surfboard, bodyboard, kayak and a surf ski.

Alternatively, the shark deterrent apparatus may be in the form of swimming apparel which is worn by the human in a marine environment so as to cover a major portion of the human's body, the swimming apparel having a major side which constitutes said major side of the apparatus and which acquires an elongate generally fusiform profile which defines said generally fusiform profile of the apparatus, when the human assumes a bodily position wherein a torso of the human is substantially straight, wherein legs of the human are brought together and wherein arms of the human are positioned at sides of the torso. The swimming apparel may, more particularly, be in the form of one of a wetsuit and a drysuit. In a case wherein the shark deterrent apparatus is provided in the form of swimming apparel, said markings may be applied to a front side of the swimming apparel which constitutes said major side of the apparatus and which is worn adjacent a front side of the human's body. Alternatively or additionally, in a case wherein the shark deterrent apparatus is provided in the form of swimming apparel, said markings may be applied to a rear side of the swimming apparel which constitutes said major side of the apparatus and which is worn adjacent a rear side of the human's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an Orca showing belly markings of the Orca;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a shark deterrent apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 shows a front view of still another embodiment of a shark deterrent apparatus in accordance with the invention in the form of a wetsuit worn by a human;

Figure 4 shows a rear view of the shark deterrent apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a front view of the shark deterrent apparatus of Figure 3, worn by a human who is illustrated assuming a particular bodily position wherein the wetsuit assumes a generally fusiform profile in plan view; and

Figure 6 shows a rear view of the shark deterrent apparatus of Figure 5; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a shark deterrent apparatus for deterring a shark from attacking a human in a body of water. It is the inventor's view that many shark attacks occur as a result of mistaken identity on the part of the sharks. More specifically, sharks are known to mistake humans for prey and, accordingly, attack them, sometimes fatally. This case of "mistaken identity" is known to occur frequently in relation to divers and surfers in certain parts of the world who may resemble seals or other common prey of, particularly, Great White Sharks. It is envisaged by the inventor that a shark deterrent apparatus in accordance with the invention will ameliorate this problem at least to some extent.

An Orca also known as a "killer whale" is known to prey on sharks and is consequently avoided by sharks. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an Orca, showing a generally elongate fusiform profile of a body of the Orca and showing distinctive belly markings of the Orca.

The Heaviside dolphin which is preyed upon by sharks, avoids predation by mimicking an Orca by displaying markings which resemble the belly markings of the Orca, so as to provide a visual sign stimulus which, when perceived by a shark, evokes an avoidance response in the shark.

With reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, a shark deterrent apparatus, in accordance with the invention, in the form of a surfboard, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The surfboard 10 is carried by a human into an aquatic marine environment and is used by the human to float on water so as to carry the human thereon during surfing, and is configured for deterring a shark, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow. The surfboard 10 has an underside 12 which has an outer side edge profile 14. The underside of the surfboard has an elongate fusiform shape when viewed in plan view. The underside 12 has markings 16 resembling belly markings of an Orca applied thereto.

In use, the underside 12 of the surfboard 10 is in contact with a body of water in the marine environment and is outwardly displayed so as to be visible to a shark swimming in the water. In use, the profile 14 of the underside 12 of the surfboard 10 mimics a fusiform body profile of an Orca and the markings 16 mimic belly markings of an Orca, thereby to evoke an avoidance response in a shark when the shark perceives the surfboard 10, in use.

With reference to Figures 3 to 6 of the drawings, another embodiment of a shark deterrent apparatus, in accordance with the invention, in the form of a wetsuit, is designated generally by the reference numeral 200. The wetsuit 200 is worn by a human in an aquatic marine environment so as to cover the human's body and is configured for deterring sharks, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

The wetsuit 200 has a front side 21 1 and a rear side 213 each having an outer side edge profile 214 when viewed in plan view and each side having markings 216 applied thereto. The front side 21 1 of the wetsuit 200 is worn adjacent a front side of the human's body. The rear side 213 of the wetsuit 200 is worn adjacent a rear side of the human's body. The profile 214 of the wetsuit 200 is therefore clearly variable and depends upon the bodily position of the human who is wearing the wetsuit 200.

In use, when the human encounters a shark in the water, the human then assumes a bodily position as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, wherein the body of the human is substantially straight, wherein legs of the human are brought together and wherein arms of the human are positioned at sides of the torso, so as to acquire an elongate generally fusiform profile. When the human assumes the bodily position described hereinabove and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, in use, the profile 214 of the front side 21 1 and the profile 214 of the rear side 213 of the wetsuit 200 mimics a fusiform body profile of an Orca and the markings 216 on the front side 21 1 and on the rear side 213 of the wetsuit 200 mimic belly markings of an Orca, thereby to evoke an avoidance response in a shark when the shark perceives the wetsuit 200. In addition, the legs of the wetsuit have foot portions 218 integrally formed with the legs, in which the wearer's feet are received. Lower parts of the legs of the wetsuit and the feet are white in colour with black tips, thereby to mimic the tail markings of an Orca. The invention extends also to a method of deterring a shark including using a shark deterrent apparatus in accordance with the invention, as hereinabove described, in an aquatic marine environment.

It is envisaged that the shark deterrent apparatus of the invention presents a large, clear visual signal which is particularly recognisable by a shark in an underwater environment having poor visibility conditions. More specifically, it is envisaged that the shark deterrent apparatus of the invention provides a visual sign stimulus which, when perceived by a shark, evokes an avoidance response in the shark. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the shark may be confused into thinking that the surfboard 10, or the surfboard 100 or the wetsuit 200, is indeed an Orca or a juvenile Orca. It is generally understood that Orcas are social creatures that travel in pods comprising a number of adults and a number of juveniles. It is believed that, sharks are aware of this behaviour and when a juvenile Orca is identified, the sharks are alerted that there may be dangerous adults lurking nearby and accordingly an avoidance response is initiated, and the sharks leave the vicinity of the juveniles. It is a well known principal of Batesian mimicry that if a predator is about to attack a smaller animal and the smaller animal suddenly flashes the sign stimuli of a predator of the attacking predator, the sudden appearance of these features of its predator are generally sufficient to scare off the predator. The underlying logic is that if the predator mistakes its prey for a partially hidden predator and takes avoidance action, the mistake would only cost the predator a meal. If, however, the predator mistakes its own predator for its prey then the mistake could be life threatening.

Orcas are predators of fish and marine animals just like the white shark. The white shark is well camouflaged for this purpose as it has a dark upper body surface and a white belly. This means that it blends in the background when viewed from above or below. The body of the Orca is also largely white below and black above, but it has very characteristic deviations from the basic pattern mentioned above for white sharks, particularly on the belly of the orca which has a highly distinctive trident pattern. Although this very distinctive pattern, comprised of highly contrasting colours, may be well suited as a sign stimulus, it is believed that this comes at a considerable cost in terms of camouflage while hunting. The applicant believes that the Orca's distinctive colouration and pattern have been selected in order to make juvenile Orcas visible to large predators such as sharks lurking from below, so that they will not mistake the juvenile Orca for anything else and will therefore realize that the shark would be making a serious mistake if it attacked the juvenile Orca.

The applicant has conducted various experiments using fusiform-shaped decoys which are towed on the surface in the ocean behind a boat elongate. Two such experiments were conducted in Mossel Bay, South Africa and another two experiments were conducted in False Bay, South Africa. A brief description of the experiments is set out below:

1 ) False Bay: In this experiment two decoys were towed side by side 20m behind a boat and 1 m apart on the water surface. One of the decoys was relatively larger than the other so as to represent adult and juvenile seals in size. In previous experiments conducted by the applicant, the sharks have approximately 80% of the time shown a preference for the larger decoy. In this experiment the larger decoy was marked on the underside thereof with belly markings of an Orca whereas the underside of the other decoy was a uniform black colour. In this experiment, the larger Orca-patterned decoy was hit by a shark on two occasions knocking the decoy 1 .5m into the air. On neither occasion were teeth marks visible on the decoy. Compared to previous experiments with decoys conducted by the applicant, this behaviour is, in the applicant's view, highly unusual and has never been seen before by the applicant as in his experience decoys are generally severely bitten by sharks.

False Bay: In this experiment two decoys were towed side by side 20m behind a boat and 1 m apart on the water surface. The decoys were of the same size representing adult seals in size. One of the decoys had orca belly markings applied to an underside thereof while the underside of the other decoy was a uniform black colour. An underwater camera was located upstream of the decoys. Video footage obtained from the camera showed a shark approaching the decoy having the black underside, with its mouth open. When the shark approached within two meters of the decoy it closed its jaws and swam past the decoy about 50cm below the decoy.

Mossel Bay: In this experiment the applicant towed two decoys on the water surface 20m behind a boat and about 1 m apart. The decoys were of the same size representing adult seals in size, with the underside of one of the decoys being marked with the belly markings of an Orca and the underside of the other decoy being a uniform black colour. In this experiment, a shark hit the decoy with the uniform black underside about 0.5m into the air. In this instance no visible teeth marks were left on the decoy. Mossel Bay: In this experiment two decoys were towed side by side about 20m behind a boat and 1 m apart on the water surface. The decoys were of the same size representing adult seals, the underside of one of the decoys being marked with the belly markings of an Orca and the underside of the other decoy being a uniform black colour. In this experiment, as with the other experiment conducted in Mossel Bay, a shark hit the black decoy about 0.5m into the air and as in the previous experiment no teeth marks were visible on the decoy after being hit by the shark. This experiment was conducted again in Mossel Bay on the next day and the applicant noticed a shark approaching the decoys and as it got close to the decoys it made an abrupt U-turn behind the decoys suggesting that the shark aborted an attack at the last moment to avoid making contact with one of the decoys.

All of the above results appear to suggest that the sharks were afraid to make any contact with the decoys and made no attempt to bite them at all. This is in total contrast with what the applicant has observed on numerous occasions in the past where sharks have bitten decoys in half and often chased after decoys after having bitten them a first time. These results all appear to suggest that the highly distinctive belly pattern of an Orca acts as a sign stimulus to white sharks and possibly other sharks, eliciting a very powerful avoidance behaviour from the sharks. This stimulus is so powerful that even if the shark is not attacking the Orca-patterned decoy, the message is so strong that it aborts hitting a normal looking decoy adjacent to it.

It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the shark deterrent apparatus and the method in accordance with the invention may vary greatly while still incorporating the essential features of the invention as described hereinabove. For example, the applicant envisages that the shark deterrent apparatus may be in the form of any other type of a watercraft, other than a surfboard, such as for example a boat, kayak, surfski or any other similar type of a watercraft having a profile having an elongate generally fusiform shape. It is also envisaged that the shark deterrent apparatus may include other markings which resemble belly markings of an Orca, other than the markings 16, 1 16, and 216 illustrated in the drawings. In this regard, it will be appreciated that although belly markings of Orca's are generally uniform, some variation is found in nature, and as such, the markings of a shark deterrent apparatus in accordance with the invention may differ from those illustrated in the drawings.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A shark deterrent apparatus for deterring a shark from attacking a human in an aquatic marine environment, which is used by the human in the aquatic marine environment, the shark deterrent apparatus having at least one major side which is outwardly displayed and which has an outer side edge profile having an elongate generally fusiform shape in plan view, the shark deterrent apparatus having markings resembling belly markings of an Orca which are applied to said major side thereof, whereby, in use, said profile of said major side of the shark deterrent apparatus mimics a body profile of an Orca and whereby said markings mimic belly markings of an Orca, such that said profile and said markings together mimic a visual appearance of an Orca, thereby to evoke an avoidance response in a shark when the shark perceives the shark deterrent apparatus, in use.

2. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the markings cover the entire major side of the shark deterrent apparatus such that an outer peripheral edge of the markings coincides with the side edge profile of the shark deterrent apparatus.

3. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apparatus is in the form of a watercraft which is used by a human in a marine environment.

4. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein an underside of the watercraft which is in contact with a body of water in the marine environment, constitutes said major side of the apparatus.

5. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the watercraft is in the form of one of a boat, a surfboard, a bodyboard, a kayak and a surfski.

6. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shark deterrent apparatus is in the form of swimming apparel which is worn by a human in an aquatic marine environment so as to cover a major portion of the human's body, said major side of the apparatus being defined by a major side of the swimming apparel and said elongate generally fusiform profile of said major side of the apparatus being defined by a profile of said major side of the swimming apparel when the human assumes a bodily position wherein a torso of the human is substantially straight, wherein legs of the human are brought together and wherein arms of the human are positioned at sides of the torso.

7. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said major side of the swimming apparel is a front side of the swimming apparel which is worn adjacent a front side of the human's body.

8. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said major side of the swimming apparel is a rear side of the swimming apparel which is worn adjacent a rear side of the human's body.

9. The shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the swimming apparel is in the form of one of a wetsuit and a drysuit.

10. A method of deterring a shark from attacking a human in an aquatic marine environment, the method including: providing a shark deterrent apparatus having at least one major side which is outwardly displayed and which has a profile having an elongate generally fusiform shape in plan view, the shark deterrent apparatus having markings on said major side of the apparatus which resemble belly markings of an Orca; and the human using the shark deterrent apparatus in water in an aquatic marine environment, whereby said profile mimics a body profile of an Orca and whereby said markings mimic belly markings of an Orca, such that said profile and said markings together mimic the visual appearance of an Orca, thereby to evoke an avoidance response in a shark when the shark perceives the shark deterrent apparatus, in use. The method as claimed in claim 10, which includes providing the shark deterrent apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.