Sleeping Shark · II
Maldives. Indian Ocean.
In the Maldivian language Dhivehi, they are lovingly called ‘nidhan miyaru’, which translates into ‘sleeping shark’. Oppose to other shark species, these beauties can lay motionless on the ocean floor because of ‘buccal pumping’, or opening and closing their mouths which allows them to pump water over their gills. This way they appear to be sleeping on sand.
Heartbreakingly, nurse sharks are often misused as props for likes and click bait or treated as pets because of their gentle nature and relatively small size – reaching up to 3 meters. I wish we’d treat them with the respect they and all sharks deserve as they play a vital role in our ocean’s ecosystems and our health.
Maldives. Indian Ocean.
In the Maldivian language Dhivehi, they are lovingly called ‘nidhan miyaru’, which translates into ‘sleeping shark’. Oppose to other shark species, these beauties can lay motionless on the ocean floor because of ‘buccal pumping’, or opening and closing their mouths which allows them to pump water over their gills. This way they appear to be sleeping on sand.
Heartbreakingly, nurse sharks are often misused as props for likes and click bait or treated as pets because of their gentle nature and relatively small size – reaching up to 3 meters. I wish we’d treat them with the respect they and all sharks deserve as they play a vital role in our ocean’s ecosystems and our health.
Maldives. Indian Ocean.
In the Maldivian language Dhivehi, they are lovingly called ‘nidhan miyaru’, which translates into ‘sleeping shark’. Oppose to other shark species, these beauties can lay motionless on the ocean floor because of ‘buccal pumping’, or opening and closing their mouths which allows them to pump water over their gills. This way they appear to be sleeping on sand.
Heartbreakingly, nurse sharks are often misused as props for likes and click bait or treated as pets because of their gentle nature and relatively small size – reaching up to 3 meters. I wish we’d treat them with the respect they and all sharks deserve as they play a vital role in our ocean’s ecosystems and our health.