Erich Ritter is one of the world’s leading researchers into shark behaviour and believes they have a reputation for being dangerous that they don't deserve. He has devised a highly-sought after protocol for how humans can better interact with sharks. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)
Ritter, who holds a PhD in Behavioural Ecology from Zurich University and now works with the University of West Florida, has been fighting for the last 35 years for a better understanding of sharks. The scientist with dual Swiss-US citizenship, is one of the leading experts in the fish’s body language.
Ritter has focused his studies on why sharks attack. As one of the few shark experts in this field of research he has experimentally recreated many of the typical attack scenarios with different species and thus dispelled many of the myths in this field.
Ritter thinks that sharks are not intrinsically dangerous. When a shark approaches a diver, he believes they are doing that out of curiosity, and thus he advises divers not to swim away but to assume a vertical position and to follow the shark by rotating on one’s own axis.
To teach divers how to interact with sharks on a very practical level, Ritter founded the “Shark SchoolExternal link” in the Bahamas in 1992. That’s where Swiss Public Television, SRF, visited the renowned shark researcher.
In the series ‘Swiss Pioneers’, Swiss Public Television, SRF, meets Swiss nationals at home and abroad who have made a name for themselves in their area of expertise.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Politics
Swiss reject plans for bigger motorways and extra rights for landlords
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Shark expert dispels “Jaws” myth
This content was published on
The marine biologist has spent much of the past decade in close proximity with carcharodon carcharias – sometimes a bit too close for comfort – and is now one of the world’s leading experts on the much-maligned “man-eater”. Scholl, who studied biology at Lausanne University, is the founder and trustee of the non-profit White Shark…
Big, yes, but bad? Carnivore divides Swiss opinion
This content was published on
Emotions run high whenever this elusive creature appears. As wolves make a comeback in Switzerland, they spark feelings of awe and fear.
This content was published on
Markus Schietsch clearly remembers his first encounter with a wild bull elephant. He was in the back of an open pickup truck when the elephant repeatedly mock charged the vehicle in the Kaeng Krachan national park in Thailand. The adrenalin-packed experience was courtesy of a study trip organised by the Zurich zoo, as the Zurich…
This content was published on
Should an area in south-western Switzerland be a predator-free zone? A local initiative wants to eliminate protected species like wolves.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.