Shark attack statistics in some countries may not be rampant, but in a certain city in Brazil where the current World Cup is being held, the number of shark attack stories is quite alarming.
Fox Sports says that Recife is a city in northeastern Brazil where tens of thousands of people visit to see of five matches in the World Cup. A few miles south of Recife's city center is the well-known Boa Viagem beach, which ironically translates to safe journey beach.
It was here that a shark attack occurred and killed a woman less than a year ago. According to The Associated Press, this shark attack was only one of 24 deadly attacks around Recife since 1992.
Brazilians may know the threat the beach poses when it comes to a shark attack, however, tourists may not. Because of the rampant shark attack cases in the beach, government officials have tried to step up in warning tourists about the dangers of shark attack cases in the area. According to the AP, fire department spokesman Valdy Oliveira said that they have taken to erecting signs in English and Spanish with the words "Danger," and "Peligro."
The department has reportedly increased the number of lifeguards patrolling the beaches near hotels from 50 to 70, said Oliveira. He stated, "We reinforced our safety protocol near hotels because of these shark attacks. We have specially done it in places where water is murky."
After the department's safety measures to prevent further shark attack incidents, several lifeguards now patrol the beach. Some sit under a tent almost directly in front of the spot where the last attack took place, reports Fox Sports. Meanwhile, other lifeguards ride their personal watercraft, taking a path parallel to the beach looking as if to keep swimmers close to shore.
Other precautionary measures taken by the department to prevent shark attack cases include placing large warning signs along a sidewalk. Each sign has a silhouette of a shark with the words "danger," or "caution" in the middle. Written in red and blue and translated to both Portuguese and English, it is a hope that tourists take them to heart.
Posters with similar content have also been affixed placed on refreshment huts on top of the seawall. There are also a string of red flags inscribed with the word "Perigo", which is "danger" for Portuguese, in yellow across the sand near the sea.
Despite these clear warning signs of a possible shark attack, not all have taken notice. Service industry workers also can't warn tourists successfully as most of don't even speak Portuguese or Spanish.
According to the state's Shark Incident Monitoring Committee, 59 people have experienced a shark attack in or near Recife since 1992. 11 months ago, 18-year-old Bruna Gobbi from Sao Paulo died after a shark attack at Boa Viagem.
Apparently, not everyone is aware that they are in imminent danger of a possible shark attack as many are still confidently flocking the beach.
Fortunately, the beach is protected by unique reef walls which protect swimmers from a possible shark attack. Though submerged during high tide, the wall can protect swimmers from sharks as long as they keep close to shore.
Shark attack incidents in Recife, Brazil are getting to an alarming growth rate. It is in the hands of the government and the people themselves to keep it from growing.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
