Stop Shark Wranglers

  • by: Mark Jacobs
  • recipient: Dirk Hoogstra, SVP of Development and Programming for HISTORY

Deceiving the public with misleading headlines, this sensationalized television show wreaks havoc on a vulnerable species; hooking dragging, maiming, mutilating, and even killing, yes, killing white sharks for fame and glory while hiding behind the mask of conservation.  Don't be fooled.  Read the facts below to understand why this show must be stopped.

This program is a disgraceful bundle of lies, misinformation, and inhumane treatment of a vulnerable species for the benefit of the stars of the show and the networks.  You will go down in history as the channel that sponsored the demise of the great white shark.

Indeed, you are already responsible for the death of one white shark while filming this show in South Africa.  This is documented, admitted to, and irrefutable.  Few things can kill a white shark, but your show has managed to do so.  And this is only the shark that your program was forced to admit to.  The sheer amateur behavior of the idiot cowboys running that operation makes one wonder how many other animals have been killed.  Indeed, in every location this show (under other names) has filmed before they have consistently caused extensive damage to the sharks.

The program tries to hide behind the guise of conservation and doing good for the sake of the shark, but this is smoke and mirrors.  At first glance your audience is drawn to the buzz words, but this show has yet to produce a single shred of verbal or documented evidence proving HOW EXACTLY IT IS GOING TO HELP THE SHARK.  Awareness?  You don't need to drag an endangered species to the point of death to raise awareness.  Where are the conservation programs that were set up after the filming of past seasons?  There are none.  Where is the carefully planned document outlining how new protection agencies will be set up thanks to this show.  There is none!  There is nothing but fame and profit at the expense of the shark while the actors of the films pull the wool over the eyes of starry eyed onlookers.

The data that the show does collect is outdated and not helpful.  Your audience is led to believe that this is ground breaking research, while in reality the same if not superior data has existed for years! And this data was collected with a small satellite tag attached to the shark with a stick as it swims by.  By contrast, your shows questionable data is gained after nearly killing members of this species time and time again.  

In California, Mexico, and South Africa, every time this show has arrived on the scene, the white sharks have disappeared, driven from their natural habitat during feeding season.  They are supposed to be enjoying protection in protected waters, instead big game fishermen have been given the chance to subject these animals to trauma that drives them away from their natural feeding grounds

Even if significant data was being collected, nothing justifies the horrifying treatment that this program showcases.  Each episode is nauseating, a majestic hunter of the ocean hooked and drug mercilessly for hours before being hauled out of the ocean to flounder and suffocate under its own body weight while a massive tag is bolted onto its dorsal fin...forever damaged. 

To those who support this show, do some research.  There are plenty of people in the world trying to do good for sharks while still respecting the animal.  These people aren't on TV hiding behind lies such as "the only ones willing to risk life and limb to save the shark".  The only ones at risk here are the sharks. 

Dear Mr. Hoogstra,





The program you are airing is a disgraceful bundle of lies, misinformation, and inhumane treatment of an endangered species for the benefit of the stars of the show and the networks.  You will go down in history as the channel that sponsored the demise of the great white shark.

















Indeed, you are already responsible for the death of one white shark while filming this show in South Africa.  This is documented, admitted to, and irrefutable.  Few things can kill a white shark, but your show has managed to do so.  And this is only the shark that your program was forced to admit to.  The sheer amateur behavior of the idiot cowboys running that operation makes one wonder how many other animals have been killed.  Indeed, in every location this show (under other names) has filmed before they have consistently caused extensive damage to the sharks.

















The program tries to hide behind the guise of conservation and doing good for the sake of the shark, but this is smoke and mirrors.  At first glance your audience is drawn to the buzz words, but this show has yet to produce a single shred of verbal or documented evidence proving HOW EXACTLY IT IS GOING TO HELP THE SHARK.  Awareness?  You don't need to drag an endangered species to the point of death to raise awareness.  Where are the conservation programs that were set up after the filming of past seasons?  There are none.  Where is the carefully planned document outlining how new protection agencies will be set up thanks to this show.  There is none!  There is nothing but fame and profit at the expense of the shark while the actors of the films pull the wool over the eyes of starry eyed onlookers.

















The data that the show does collect is outdated and not helpful.  Your audience is led to believe that this is ground breaking research, while in reality the same if not superior data has existed for years! And this data was collected with a small satellite tag attached to the shark with a stick as it swims by.  By contrast, your shows questionable data is gained after nearly killing members of this species time and time again.  

















In California, Mexico, and South Africa, every time this show has arrived on the scene, the white sharks have disappeared, driven from their natural habitat during feeding season.  They are supposed to be enjoying protection in protected waters, instead big game fishermen have been given the chance to subject these animals to trauma that drives them away from their natural feeding grounds.

















Even if significant data was being collected, nothing justifies the horrifying treatment that this program showcases.  Each episode is nauseating, a majestic hunter of the ocean hooked and drug mercilessly for hours before being hauled out of the ocean to flounder and suffocate under its own body weight while a massive tag is bolted onto its dorsal fin...forever damaged. 

















To those who support this show, do some research.  There are plenty of people in the world trying to do good for sharks while still respecting the animal.  These people aren't on TV hiding behind lies such as "the only ones willing to risk life and limb to save the shark".  The only ones at risk here are the sharks.

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