Ocean Ramsey, a marine conservationist, says she’s been swimming with sharks for thus lengthy, it appears like she’s grown up with a few of them.
So when Queen Nikki, a 16-foot tiger shark, jumped out of the water and bit at Ramsey’s fins in a now viral video, the shark scientist laughed and greeted her by saying, “Hello Nikki! Aww…”
“I like that tiger shark,” Ramsey advised TODAY. “I grew up with that tiger shark, I feel we have been youngsters on the identical time. And so I’ve recognized her for over 20 years.”
Ramsey described the incident that occurred in Hawaii final week in an interview with TODAY, saying she went into the water too quick and Nikki “completely reacted to that.”
“I noticed her and she or he was she was shut sufficient, with sufficient pace, that it seemed like she was really going at perhaps my fin ideas,” Ramsey stated. “There (have been) a bunch of little education fish beneath, so I might see her pace and I knew that I wanted to again off in that second.”
Ramsey waited for just a few seconds earlier than diving into the water, as she does practically daily as a part of her work in shark analysis and conservation. She additionally takes common individuals into the water to assist educate them about shark conduct.
“It’s simply, like, ‘That is Nikki,’ you realize, Queen Nikki, and she or he’s such a enjoyable and interactive shark,” she stated. “We have been really actually excited for that second. And I used to be simply so excited to see her.”
The shark scientist stated she simply desires individuals to know that sharks deserve respect.
“They’re wild animals,” Ramsey stated. “They’re apex predators, however they’re not monsters. And that’s what I wish to ensure it doesn’t come throughout.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. Extra from TODAY:
