Cristina Zenato, the "shark whisperer," has such a close relationship with Caribbean reef sharks after diving off the Bahamas for 24 years that she even removes fish hooks from their ferocious mouths.
This dentist to the sharks has removed about 250 hooks from their mouths over the past 15 years, according to USA Today Sports website BNQT.com, not something anyone besides a top-level diver like Zenato should try.
"I've received some injuries on my fingers from twisting and turning of the animals trying to become free as I tug on the hook," the renowned shark conservationist said. "Not to mention the hooks themselves sometimes piercing my skin."
Zenato said over the years she has learned the sharks' mannerisms and can sense when they are in distress, per BNQT, with some of them coming to her more than one time to remove hooks.
"I know each and every one of them physically but also temper wise, who is a fast feeder, who is calm feeder, who likes to be touched, who doesn't," Zenato said. "Some of my sharks can go into a relaxed state and sink slowly into my lap which allows me to see better, but some don't do that and the process is to figure it out on the fly, as they swim by.
"Some hooks remain lodged with the barb inside the thick skin and that takes a lot of attempts. The sharks seem to know I am trying to remove the hook but like any other animal they don't understand pain and they tend to swim away as soon as I start to work with the hook. Then they might come back in a tight circle over and over, giving me more tries."
On her Facebook page, Zenato displays pictures of a wide variety of hooks she has removed from the sharks over the years.
"Sharks will be sharks and will always snatch at the opportunity of free food, but every time they end up with a bunch of hooks," Zenato said in Facebook post dated March 11. "My dear sharks if you continue like this I am going to need a bigger box where to store them. Love...your shark momma."
Zenato was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2011 and consults with organizations for the creation of marine parks with an emphasis on protecting sharks, according to her hall of fame biography.
"My personal advice is to become shark ambassadors through knowledge and understanding," Zenato told the Professional Association of Diving Instructors website last year. "I suggest to go diving with these creatures, with the different species out there, and to try out the different ways we dive and snorkel with them. Once we have the knowledge, we can also transfer that to those afraid of sharks due to preconceived notions."
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