Move over Amity Island. Réunion Island, in the western Indian Ocean, has seen more shark attacks than the entire Jaws franchise combined.
In 2011, French bodyboarder Mathieu Schiller was killed in a shark attack just metres from the shore at Boucan Canot, a popular beach resort on the island’s west coast. The incident was witnessed by other beachgoers and surfers. His body was never recovered.
Over the next eight years, 30 people were attacked by sharks at locations around the island, 11 of which were fatal. This accounted for almost 20% of known global shark fatalities during the same period. Réunion became known as “Shark Island.”
So, what do we know about the sharks involved? Two species are responsible for most of the serious attacks around Réunion. Bull sharks, which grow up to 3.5 metres long, are powerful predators that favour warm, shallow coastal waters.
- It's huge, crotchety, has a fondness for head butting, and is dangerous to humans – oh and can be found in BOTH rivers and oceans
- This striped beauty might be labelled one of the most dangerous fish in the sea to humans but in reality it's a little lazy and prefers to wait for an easier meal
Meanwhile, tiger sharks, which grow up to 5 metres long, are famously opportunistic feeders, with a varied diet that has earned them the nickname “the dustbins of the sea”.
Following the spate of attacks, authorities introduced a range of measures designed to reduce the risk to beachgoers. Swimming and surfing are now heavily restricted, with people directed towards designated areas protected by nets or natural barriers.
Scientists have helped to develop and test ways to make the water safer, including observation drones in the sky, electrical deterrents worn by swimmers, and floating devices called drumlines that can be used to help catch and remove dangerous individuals. At Boucan Canot, a 600-metre exclusion net has also been installed offshore to protect the public bathing area.
Collectively, the measures have made a difference. There have been no fatal shark bites around Réunion Island since May 2019. But that doesn’t mean the sharks have disappeared.
Although their numbers and movements may vary, research suggests that bull and tiger sharks are present in the island’s coastal waters throughout the year. So, although the island has found ways to make some of its beaches safer, danger is never far away.
For the foreseeable future, restrictions remain in place, and anyone tempted to take a dip outside a designated swimming area would be wise to think twice. The beaches may be safer, but the sharks haven’t gone anywhere.
