Galaxies by Katia and James A

Air Jaws by Liam W

AIR JAWS

Air Jaws is a Great White Shark that breaches for its prey and can jump up to two metres high. Its name came from the movie ‘Jaws’, but due to its jumping ability, it is called ‘Air Jaws.’

Air Jaws or the Great White Shark are mainly breaching in the waters around Seal Island near Cape Town, South Africa. Seal Island is home to 60,000 seals and penguins, with rough terrain, shallow water and small rockpools. It is a great place to play and have fun for seal pups... until Air Jaws comes.

Air Jaws is a shark that has an attack first ask questions later personality, because of this, Air Jaws not only attacks seals, but is known to attack the African penguin. Its body is built for speed so when it breaches for its prey in a vertical rush to the surface, IT CAN JUMP! Usually the deeper the water, the bigger the jump. They also swim deep in water for camouflage. There is a ring of death which is where most of the shark attacks occur.

Since an adult Great White Shark is 15-17 feet {4.6-5.2metres},long and can take in with one large bite up to 30-40 pounds {13.7-18.2kg}. Surprisingly these big monsters aren’t first in first serve, they eat in sizes. Biggest to smallest.

Air Jaws is a great white shark that breaches in the waters by South Africa. The sharks can grow up to 15-17 feet long.

Air Jaws by Carmen

Air Jaws

The best place in the world to witness the spectacular Great White Shark breaching is 30km south of Cape Town at Seal Island in False Bay. Scientists have acknowledged that the breaching behaviour of the Great White Shark occurs there more frequently than anywhere along the South African coastline.

It’s difficult to imagine a 1 tonne animal, launching itself out of the waters that surround Seal Island while hunting, however the Great White Shark does just this. This spectacular behaviour is called breaching as Great White sharks use this strategy to catch fast moving prey, such as seals.

The Great White Shark begins its hunting at dawn. They will swim near the bottom of the murky waters and the clearer the water, the deeper they will swim. Once they spot its prey, it is  a full out vertical rush to the surface, the Great White often is able to reach twenty miles per hour, and break through the water grabbing its prey. This act is a ‘shoot first ask questions later’ performance and is often targeted to attack a seal, however sometimes long chases of up to 3-4 minutes can occur due to the seal noticing the shark and maneuvering away or by chance the shark simply misses. . During these long chases the Great White Shark will often jump out head over tail with great agility for its size.

Great White Sharks breach most commonly in the habitat of Seal Island. The island is a small land mass located 5.7 kms off the northern beaches of False Bay, near Cape Town, in South Africa. Seal Island is so named, because of the great number of Cape Fur Seals which  occupy it. It is 5 acres in area and home to at least 64,000 cape fur seals. It is also home to seabirds and is likely that non-marine species, fly there to breed as well. The dense population of the seals at certain times of the year, attract the seal’s main predator, the Great White Sharks. A ‘Ring Of Death’ surrounds the island as this is where attacks on seals most often occur, however the seals have adapted a smarter way to cross through the steep dropoff. As the seals return they take one breath then plunge the murky 15c degree water and swim swiftly towards the island and only breathe again once safely on the island.

To conclude, 30km south of Cape Town at Seal Island in False Bay, is the greatest place to witness the spectacular hunting ability of the Great White Shark as they continue to adapt to their habitat. It is known as breaching. The phenomenon of a 1 tonne animal swimming at the murky bottom depths then rushing to the surface in a full out vertical rush to the surface, catching its prey as it leaps from the water.

Science: by Grace

Science: George and Kiara

Reading Activities - Carmen

Air Jaws by Hannah

Air Jaws

By Hannah Shallcrass

Vicious great white sharks hunt cape fur seals in waters around Seal Island in Cape Town, South Africa. Great whites can breach up to 2 metres out of the water. This is the only place where they breach.

False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa is where Seal Island is the home to 60,000 cape fur seals and South African penguins. Great whites also live around Seal Island but they hunt 400 yards out of the island which is known as the “ring of death”. The “ring of death” is where great whites surround the island awaiting the prey.

An “air jaws” shark mainly feeds on food around Seal Island. These sharks will feed on dozens of seals, penguins, and dead sea birds. They will also feed on other food such as whales devouring the meat at 35-40 pounds or more per bite.

An “air jaws” shark is highly manoeuvrable for how big it is. The shark would swim in the murky water of the ocean. A larger shark has priority so when a smaller shark is going to attack the larger shark can take over. When a seal or any other prey comes along the shark would swim at an angle of either parallel, and vertical or any other trajectory depending on where it is. The shark would swim at full speed toward the prey and breech. The shark is not always successful, when it is not it will go back and may have another attempt.

The seals will leave Seal Island in larger groups and will come back in smaller groups. Some lucky seals are well adapted to the habitat and know how things work around Seal Island. When the sharks have a feeding frenzy they become intoxicated after 2 hours of non-stop feeding. Some seals make fearless runs through the ring of death to make an escape. As the seasons change from winter to spring the air jaws abandon the island.

Air Jaws well known as great whites are amazing creatures as they have adapted to their environment and will continue to do so.