HISTORY OF SHARK AWARENESS DAY
Shark Awareness Day appears to have its origins in the U.S., but the day’s goals of raising awareness in favor of said sea creatures are universal. Sharks, like fish, date so far back in history that many scientists refer to them as ‘living fossils.’ In fact, sharks are older than trees and dinosaurs, with the latter having roamed the earth only 230 million years ago. Sharks, on the other hand, have been on the planet for more than 420 million years now. They have also survived five mass extinctions. They belong to the cartilaginous group of fish because most of their skeleton is made up of cartilage except for their teeth, which are hard, sharp, and strong to snag and break down their food. Their sleek body shapes aid in providing agility when swimming. Sharks also typically have five or six slits on their sides and pectoral fins that are not attached to their heads.