Ethologist Ila France Porcher spent seven years observing wild sharks in French Polynesia and Florida, uncovering astonishing insights into their emotional lives, intelligence and social dynamics. Her groundbreaking work challenges long-held assumptions, revealing sharks not as mindless predators, but as sentient, complex beings capable of memory, attachment and even moral judgment.

Blacktip reef sharks are enigmatic creatures whose complex behaviours are not widely understood. Ethologist Ila France Porcher shares her insights into the mysteries of these beautiful sharks.

A new style of shark dive has been developed by Jim Abernethy, of Scuba Adventures in Florida. In a dramatic demonstration that “shark huggers” are right, all his guests do with the sharks now is to stroke them! Jim was the pioneer who first demonstrated the peaceful way that sharks will interact with divers, especially when their curiosity has been aroused through the offer of a snack. But when he found out that sharks prefer affection to food, he changed his approach.