NATURE
Sharkfest!
A Sand Tiger Shark
Going virtual with
Our favorite toothsome ocean predators are often misundestood, but the fine folks at the Tennessee Aquarium are showing them in a new understanding light... BY CASEY PHILLIPS
I
t’s a telling example of pop culture echoing the real-life sentiment that Disney’s much-beloved modern classic “Finding Nemo” features a support group for sharks struggling to master their overwhelming need to feed.
While lighthearted, this iconic scene — “Fish are friends, not food!” — plays up the long-standing view of sharks as ravenous killers with insatiable appetites. In reality, these sleek predators are hugely influential in balancing aquatic ecosystems.
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CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
