With powerful bodies, shining metallic blue, silver, and white, and faces dominated by massive, dark eyes and ragged rows of dagger-like teeth, mako sharks are truly striking creatures. Despite their beauty, it is no surprise that they have been the inspiration for thriller movies such as Deep Blue Sea (1999) and Mako (2022). But are they really the bloodthirsty monsters they have been portrayed as? How dangerous are mako sharks?
What Are Mako Sharks?
With mature females measuring up to 4m (13ft) in length and weighing up to 590kg (1300lb), makos can be pretty large sharks. They are also the fastest shark on the planet, reaching speeds of up to 72kph (45mph). Makos use their remarkable speed and powerful, muscular bodies to their advantage during hunts. While they sometimes chase down their prey, they prefer a stalk-and-ambush strategy, much like their larger cousins, great whites. Makos use their darker upper bodies to camouflage themselves as they swim beneath their unsuspecting prey, before shooting up and immobilising it by tearing off fins, flippers or tail. Fortunately for us, the mako’s preferred food is fish, and they are one of the very few predators capable of catching marlins and swordfish, thanks to their speed and agility. Mako sharks are not tremendously picky eaters, however, and also prey on squid, dolphins, porpoises and sea birds.
Mako Attacks On Humans
The vast majority of mako “attacks” on humans have been cases of self-defence, in which the shark is merely trying to escape fishermen (if someone was hauling me onto a boat by a hook in my mouth, I’d be pretty pissed off too). However, in recent years, makos have been implicated in a spate of attacks in the Red Sea. Most recently, a 68-year-old Austrian woman died during an attack off the Egyptian coast. The shark removed both an arm and a leg before the woman was able to get herself to shore, where she tragically [OTT?; maybe ‘unfortunately’ or simply ‘later’] died from her injuries. In 2010, a series of shark attacks happened in the same area, for two of which a mako was responsible, the rest being the work of oceanic white tips. Fortunately, neither victim was killed, with one losing his arm and the other suffering minor lacerations to the thigh. The shark responsible for the latter attacks was eventually caught and identified by its unusually-shaped jaw (likely the result of a fishing injury), which matched the victims’ wounds. The shark was emaciated and unwell, and it is believed to have been acting out of sheer desperation. Makos have a very high metabolic rate, and need to feed regularly [frequently?]. Water temperatures in the Red Sea around the time of the attacks were unusually high, which would cause the sharks’ metabolisms to rise. This, coupled with overfishing, the feeding of sharks by tourists and the unusual topography of the area, with a steep drop-off into deep water very close to shore, is likely to be the reason for this mako’s highly unusual behaviour.
Are Mako Sharks Aggressive Towards Humans?
Mako sharks are deep water fish, which rarely come into contact with humans. Divers generally describe them as being cautious, intelligent animals, which show no interest in humans as prey. However, makos are known to be highly possessive of their kills, and will fend off anyone or anything they see as potential competition for their meal. For this reason, they have been known to exhibit threatening territorial behaviour towards spear-fishers. When threatened, makos are known to be highly aggressive and defend themselves ferociously (fair enough, really), and can inflict serious injury.
Are Makos More Dangerous Than Great Whites?
No. Great whites are significantly larger than mako sharks and inhabit shallower waters, where they come into more contact with humans. That said, mako sharks are incredibly fast and have a remarkable bite force for their size. They are also arguably more territorial and “high-energy” than great whites, making them (perhaps) more likely to attack when threatened. The mako shark is essentially like the great white’s smaller, highly-caffeinated cousin.
How Dangerous Are Mako Sharks?
As with any other large predator, yes, potentially. As with any other large predator, mostly, no. Mako sharks are incredibly well-designed (evolved, actually). They are intelligent, unbelievably fast and powerful. They are exceptionally good at what they do, which is, among other things, hunt. If humans put themselves in a position which threatens the shark’s ability to do so, they may find themselves in an unfortunate situation. This is something we are increasingly doing, as overfishing and pollution damage the ecosystem, leaving many makos with nothing to eat. Situations like the attacks in the Red Sea may become more common if more is not done to protect the sharks’ natural food source, which would certainly be in everybody’s best interests. I, for one, would not want to be in the water when the sharks get hungry.