Women Survive Shark Attacks Nine Times More than Men

Men watch out before jumping into the waters! Chances are you will less likely survive a shark attack. A new research from Australia states that women have more chances of survival when it comes to shark attacks.

Australian researchers found that men were the target in 84 percent of all unprovoked shark attacks. They constituted 89 percent of all shark bite fatalities. Researchers said this shows that women have better chances of survival during shark attacks.

The study results astonished the authors so much that they verified their results. "Potentially men spend more time in the water, and are more risk-prone," researcher Daryl McPhee of Bond University in Queensland told The Telegraph.

According to the study findings, Australia topped the list of highest number of fatal shark attacks globally. Moreover, the number of unprovoked shark bites has tripled in recent years.

The study stated that 32 fatal shark bites were reported in Australia between 1982 and 2011 and the team noted that there were 171 unprovoked bites during that time.

"Of the six countries where shark bites are most prevalent, Australia actually recorded the fourth lowest percentage of bites that were fatal at 18.7 per cent, despite having the highest number of total fatalities," McPhee said in a press release.

"In comparison, the United States has by far the highest number of recorded bites but also the lowest percentage of fatalities, at just 3.6 per cent, which is likely to be because of a higher level of reporting of incidents, while Reunion, a small country located south of Mauritius, had the least attacks of the six countries, but the highest fatality rate at 51.6 percent," he said.

"Australians have an obvious love and affinity with the water, so the high level of usage undoubtedly plays a part," McPhee explained. "The type and size of sharks found in Australian waters is also believed to be a factor, with the white shark behind the highest number of unprovoked shark bites globally and prevalent here."

The study was published in the journal Coastal Management.