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Deadly shark attacks doubled in 2023, with disproportionate number in one country, new report finds
There was a spike in deadly shark attacks reported globally in 2023, with one country bearing the brunt of incidents, a new report shows.
The overall number of fatal incidents last year remained relatively low, but it was still twice the previous year’s total, according to the latest iteration of the International Shark Attack File — a database of global shark attacks run by the University of Florida.
The new report, published Monday, noted that a “disproportionate” amount of people died from shark bites in Australia last year when compared with other countries around the world.
Along with the tally of fatal shark attacks, which jumped from five to 10 between 2022 and 2023, researchers also charted an increase in the number of non-fatal global shark attacks over that same time period. In 2023, there were 69 confirmed shark attacks worldwide, which was higher than the previous five-year average of 63 attacks.
“This is within the range of the normal number of bites, though the fatalities are a bit unnerving this year,” Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark research program, said in a statement.
The International Shark File arrived at the numbers of both fatal and non-fatal attacks by tallying what it calls “unprovoked” bites on humans. Unprovoked bites are “incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark,” reads a definition on the Florida Museum of Natural History’s website. The museum is located at the University of Florida.
Australia accounted for only 22% of the world’s unprovoked shark attacks last year, but it accounted for 40% of unprovoked shark attacks that ended in death, according to the file. In total, 15 unprovoked attacks took place in Australia in 2023, which is similar to the country’s five-year annual average. Four of the attacks were deadly, and three took place at the same remote beach off the Eyre Peninsula in southern Australia, which draws surfers despite being known to have white sharks in its waters. Australian surfers tend to bear the brunt of fatal shark attacks, researchers said.
Outside of Australia, two deadly shark attacks happened in the U.S. last year, while the Bahamas, Egypt, Mexico and New Caledonia each confirmed one. Authorities in Mexico reported early this year that a young fisherman was killed in a shark attack on Dec. 29 while diving for scallops off the Pacific Coast.
Non-fatal shark bites were reported in Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, New Seychelles, Turks and Caicos, Ecuador and South Africa, in addition to the U.S., which recorded 36 bites in total. That’s more bites than any other country, which researchers say is “consistent with long-term trends” and actually slightly lower than the 41 unprovoked shark bites recorded nationwide in 2022. Almost half of the U.S. attacks happened in Florida, but it was one attack in Hawaii and another in California that proved deadly.
A shark attack that does not meet the criteria for an unprovoked bite may be classified as “provoked” instead. Provoked bites are those that “occur when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way,” according to another definition shared online by the museum.
“These include instances when divers are bitten after harassing or trying to touch sharks, bites on spearfisherman, bites on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net and so forth,” the definition continues.
Of the 120 alleged interactions between sharks and humans that researchers say they investigated in 2023, a total 22 provoked bites were confirmed in addition to the 69 unprovoked bites. Four of the provoked shark attacks were deadly.
Of the remaining cases investigated in 2023 that did not meet criteria for “provoked” or “unprovoked” bites, nine involved “boat bites,” where sharks bit either a motorized or non-motorized marine vessel, according to the museum. Another two were classified as “scavenge” incidents, where sharks bit a human who was already dead.
Details were unclear for one case where “no classification could be made,” and 16 more cases were classified as unconfirmed, in some instances because the injuries involved could not be clearly attributed to a shark bite as opposed to a bite from some other large fish or a cut from something sharp in the water. Cases could also be unconfirmed because a victim drowned and their body was never recovered, the museum said. Researchers at the International Shark File said they would continue to investigate those cases “as data becomes available.”
In general, the shark attack file noted that the “risk of being bitten by a shark remains extremely low.” Surfers and other beachgoers participating in board sports were the most common targets of shark attacks in 2023, followed by swimmers and waders and, lastly, snorkelers and free divers.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.