- Chris Fallows
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African born Chris Fallows is an expert on the Great White Shark and their hunting habits.[1] He has amassed the largest database of predatory events involving Great White Sharks in False Bay and was the first member of the scientific community to observe the breaching behaviour.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Growing up in a game reserve Fallow’s fascination with wildlife stretches back to his childhood. After moving to the coast at the age of 12 his fascination with the ocean and marine wildlife grew. At the age of 16 Fallow co-ordinated a tag and release program in his home town. His endeavours, with the co-operation of local beach net fishermen, saw the tagging, documenting and releasing of over fifteen thousand sharks and rays.
Career
In 1992 Fallow was at the forefront of Great White Shark tours when he started his work and research at Dyer Island off Gaansbaai. He worked there until 1996 when he co-founded African Shark Eco-Charters in False Bay. It was then that he along with colleague discovered the breaching Great White Sharks that have been made famous by the Air Jaws movies. In the year 2000 Fallow formed Apex Shark Expeditions [2] with his wife Monique. Over the last 10 years together they observed and catalogued over 5500 predatory events. This is the largest database of its kind in the world.
Chris Fallows has written four scientific papers[3] on the breaching behaviour of great White Sharks when hunting as well a book titled, ‘Great White and The Majesty of Sharks’ which has sold over 25 000 copies. Fallow has worked with National Geographic, Discovery Channel[4] and helped produce the Air Jaws series of shark documentaries. The shark segment on Discoveries Blue Planet was filmed with the help of Chris Fallows.
As well as Great White Shark observation and cage diving Fallow has undertaken nearly 200 open water diving expeditions with the Mako shark and Blue sharks in South Africa since 1999.
References
- ^ Grant Butler. "Shark expert Chris Fallows hopes 'Ultimate Air Jaws' leads to better understanding of great whites". oregonlive.com. http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2010/07/shark_expert_chris_fallows_hop.html. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
- ^ Amelia Wade (Apr 6, 2011). "Expert shows great white's docile side". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10717387. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
- ^ Martin, R. A.; Hammerschlag, N.; Collier, R. S.; Fallows, C. (2005). "Predatory behaviour of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Seal Island, South Africa". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK 85 (5): 1121. doi:10.1017/S002531540501218X.
- ^ DAILY MAIL REPORTER (5th April 2011). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1373199/Risky-business-Shark-expert-sets-prove-remote-threat-humans-surfing-just-FEET-away-great-white.html "Into the Jaws of danger: Shark expert paddles to within feet of great white to prove they're not a threat to humans Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1373199/Risky-business-Shark-expert-sets-prove-remote-threat-humans-surfing-just-FEET-away-great-white.html#ixzz1OY1f1q8M"]. Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1373199/Risky-business-Shark-expert-sets-prove-remote-threat-humans-surfing-just-FEET-away-great-white.html. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
External links
Categories:- Living people
- Ichthyologists
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