A father of four was fatally attacked by a shark while snorkeling alone off the coast of Israel in April. Researchers have revealed that he was attacked by a group of red sharks, which are usually considered harmless to humans.
Barak Zak, who lived near Tel Aviv, was captured on video being pulled into the ocean by the shark as he attempted to fend it off with a GoPro stick.
Witnesses on the beach in Hadera reported hearing cries for help before the man was pulled under, and eventually the water turned red.
Months later, scientists concluded that Zak’s death marked the first known incident of a docile reed shark attacking a human, according to a report published in the journal *Animal Behavior*.
They analyzed a piece of human bone found the day after Zak’s death, confirming that he had been consumed by “several” sharks.
However, the study, released on August 16, argued that the sharks shouldn’t be viewed as solely responsible for the tragedy.
The researchers suggested that this unusual attack may have stemmed from external influences like human error or disturbances in the ecosystem. It was also indicated that the natural instincts of the sharks could have been triggered during a feeding frenzy.
Dusky sharks, which can grow up to 13 feet, are typically shy and avoid human contact. They often inhabit the cooler coastal waters near Hadera, city located just north of Tel Aviv.
These waters are also favored by local swimmers for the same reason.
Red sharks are known to thrive even in colder months, partly due to locals who feed them, providing a steady food source when natural prey is scarce.
It’s not unusual for sharks to approach divers for food. The competition for food in the area may have played a role, as the scientists suggested that if Zak didn’t provide any food, the sharks might have felt agitated.
The researchers noted, “Competition for access to food resources overrides the species’ normal behavior, including the inherently non-instinctual nature of (human) prey.” This situation likely resulted from a combination of simultaneous biting—one perhaps instinctual and the other predatory triggered by the feeding frenzy.
They recommended that the best way to mitigate this abnormal behavior in red sharks would be to stop the public from feeding them. “Other measures may be complementary, but are arguably less relevant than this approach,” the researchers stated.
