Peering into Mr. Savage’s dry bag, I almost did a double take. The glasses in my pocket and the glasses in the bag were exactly the same! Identical logo and everything. Making sure no one was looking at me too closely, I peeked at the other stuff in the bag. There was a plain black shirt with the same logo, albeit faded.
“Adrianna! Hurry up and get to your spot,” Dad said. I nodded at him, put my camera and Feye’s phone in the bag, and quickly closed everything up. The glasses would be safer in my pocket for now.
I took my place near the front doors, still reeling from seeing the identical stuff as the poachers’ in Mr. Savage’s bag. What did that mean? I’d never seen that logo anywhere else before, but maybe they just shopped at the same online stores? But it was definitely weird that the poachers had now shown up at two of our filming locations. I stared at the back of Mr. Savage’s head. He seemed surprised when he walked into the restaurant earlier. Why?
I knew I had to put this new discovery aside for now and focus on releasing the shark, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
“Mark, to the left, Alice, to the right. Connor, does everyone have microphones?” Mr. Savage asked. His voice cut through my thoughts and brought me back to the present.
“Done, boss! They’re good to go,” Connor said. He stood up, slung his sound bag over one of his shoulders, and plopped his headphones around his ears, giving us a thumbs-up.
“And … action!”
As my dad narrated why my mom was trying to get the shark out of the tank, I watched as her hands held steady over the water’s surface. For a few minutes there was silence, the only noise coming from the shark thrashing away from my mother’s grasp as her hands darted into the water to grab it.
“¡Lo tengo! Got it!” Mom said as she held the shark up to transfer it over. Third time was the charm! Dad held up the tank so my mom could slip the shark into the water.
“Tell me you got that!” Mr. Savage said.
“Got it!” Alice and Mark both replied.
“Let’s get going. We want this shark out into the ocean before it runs out of oxygen,” my mom said, looking down at the small tank. The gray shark swished back and forth as my parents carried the small aquarium out of the restaurant and put it in the back of a golf cart.
“See if you can get some footage of them going to the beach with the shark!” Mr. Savage yelled.
I turned around to make sure Mr. Gamage shut the restaurant door behind him. He saw me looking and smiled. I returned the smile and nodded in thanks.
As we neared the beach, we could see a crowd had gathered to watch the shark release. We parked and Mr. Manil helped us organize the shark festival–goers into a long line. One by one, everyone would help pass the tank from the parking lot to the water’s edge.
“Tell me you’re getting this, you guys,” Mr. Savage muttered. Alice and Mark nodded, their cameras up on their shoulders, letting us know they were rolling by the bright red blinking lights that went off every few seconds.
We watched as my mom and dad gently picked up the tank off the back of the golf cart and passed it to the first waiting couple. They took a second to admire the thrashing gray animal and said a few words over the shark. This went on for a few more couples before I turned to Mr. Manil.
“Mr. Manil, what are they saying?” I asked, curious.
He smiled at me. “Let’s go closer!” he said. The next two people to take the shark tank were Zev and Manisha. I could see them struggling a little bit, their arms shaking as they each said something to the shark.
Mr. Manil asked them if they were willing to share what parting words they had said to the shark as they passed the heavy tank on to Punya and Dilip.
“We’re thanking the shark for teaching us not to judge an animal by how scary it looks,” Zev explained, flashing me a megawatt smile.
“And we’re wishing it a safe journey out there in the big, wide world!” Manisha added, laughing.
“I told it that it always has a home in our waters,” Punya said, after she and Dilip had passed the tank along to the next pair of volunteers.
“And we’re telling the shark to tell its friends to come visit! It was awesome seeing all those sharks today—we want to see more like that!” Dilip finished.
“Adrianna, why are you crying? Can you tell the camera?” Mr. Savage asked.
I wiped the tears away with the back of my hand and then rubbed my hands against my pants.
“It’s just … a beautiful thought. That people would care so much about an animal they used to be scared of … it just gives me hope,” I explained.
I felt my heart hammer in my chest, hoping I wasn’t messing up how I was saying this. “I’m just really happy,” I said.
I watched silently as the shark continued to be passed down from caring hands to caring hands, waiting to be taken by my mom and dad, who were now at the water’s edge.
Mom motioned for me to come meet them. “We think you and Feye should be the ones to release the shark,” Mom said, eyeing the tank, now just a few people away from us.
When they took the shark from the other people, they passed it on to us. I could see the blinking red lights of the cameras and could tell by Mr. Savage’s expression that he wanted us to say something.
I looked down at the shark and whispered, “Safe travels, tiburón. And no matter what anyone says, you are no monster.”
Feye smiled down at the shark and said, “See ya later, shark! Go rule those oceans!”
And with that, we walked into the water until it was splashing against our shins. Once there, we tipped the tank over and the shark slid into the ocean. I wondered how long it had been since it had seen the waves … would it know how to survive? Judging by how quickly it zipped away, I thought it was going to be just fine!
As everyone gathered at the edge of the water, waiting for us to set the shark free, they cheered when they spotted it swimming away from the shore into deeper water.
“Goodbye, shark!” “¡Adiós!” “Ayubowan!”
I looked back to see everyone waving goodbye, some waving their wet shirts and snorkels in the air as they bid the shark safe travels, wherever it went.
“And cut! That’s a wrap, Villalobos family!” Mr. Savage said triumphantly. He looked as if he wanted to say more, but at that precise moment his phone started ringing. Holding up a finger, he stepped away from the noise of the loud crowd.
I turned to the Gamage family, smiling warmly at them. “Thank you for having such an open mind about sharks and their importance,” I said. Mr. Manil translated for me.
Mr. Gamage bowed his head. “Thank you for your bravery,” he said through Mr. Manil.
I nodded and looked behind him as my friends came toward us to say goodbye. Excusing myself, I jogged over to them and gave them each a hug. “I can’t thank you guys enough for showing me how beautiful Sri Lanka is,” I started. “Zev, Manisha, Punya, Dilip … I’m going to miss you. Promise to stay in touch?”
Zev held up his phone as he said he would have his people call my people, and everyone laughed. Turning to him, I gave him another hug as I thanked him for blindly going on adventures with me.
“It was fun. There’s definitely no one like Adrianna Villalobos in the world, that’s for sure!” Zev said. “You are one of a kind! And I’ll never forget you.” My new friends nodded.
I blushed. That was the nicest thing any guy had ever said to me, besides my family. What could I even say to that? I opened my mouth to say something when a shrill voice rang over the noise. “Familia Villalobos!” Mr. Savage called, interrupting our conversation and waving us over with urgency. “I need to talk to you, pronto!”
“We’ll talk more soon, amigos!” I said as our family went to Mr. Savage to see what the important news was.
“What is it, Rick?” Dad asked.
“We just got our next assignment!”
“Any guesses?” Mom asked us.
“Alaska!” Feye said. We all looked at him w
ith a raised eyebrow. Alaska? Where did that come from?
“What? They have … bears,” offered Feye.
“South Africa?” I asked, crossing my fingers to return back to the African continent.
Mr. Savage shook his head.
“Get ready, gang,” Mr. Savage said, holding up the e-mail that had just come through. “We’re going to Mexico … to film some jaguars.”
I have always been fascinated by misunderstood predators, and to me, sharks are one of the most misunderstood. The first time I ever saw a shark on-screen was during Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” where I watched a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) breaching out of the water and into the air. It was chasing a seal and, at the same time, stealing my heart.
The first time I saw a shark in the wild was when I was training for my scuba diving license in the British Virgin Islands. This trip would cement whether or not I really wanted to become a marine biologist. It was here that I came across a nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and screamed into my regulator: Finally! A wild shark!
Since then, I have dedicated my life to learning all about sharks and their relatives (skates, rays, and chimaeras). But I am also passionate about teaching people around me about these beautiful animals, the threats they face, and how we can all protect them. I still get just as excited when seeing sharks as I did the first day I came across that nurse shark. How lucky I am to live in a world and a time when there are so many different species! Even as a shark scientist, I am constantly learning new things about sharks—I love being a “forever student” of these amazing creatures.
No two days are the same for me. Some days I am out in the field from before the sunrise to long after the moon takes its place. I love the smells of sunscreen, frozen fish, stinky bait, and salty ocean air equally! Other weeks I am behind a computer screen for days at a time, analyzing the data I recovered from the field, writing up reports, and publishing papers. I love the variety of it all.
My research has shown me that for a healthy ocean, we need a healthy shark population. So, we should not be afraid of an ocean full of sharks … we should be afraid of an ocean without them. I hope this book sparked awe and wonder, not fear. It would be amazing if it made you see sharks in a different light! Who knows, maybe one day you will be a fellow shark researcher.
HOW MANY SHARK SPECIES ARE THERE?
There are over five hundred different shark species that have been found so far … and counting!
WHERE CAN YOU FIND SHARKS?
All over the world! Sharks are found in salt water (the ocean), brackish water (a mixture of salt water and freshwater), and freshwater (e.g., rivers).
WHAT DO SHARKS EAT?
It depends on the species. Some common prey items are fish, marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, and even other sharks.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SHARK?
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) usually grows to 39 feet (12 meters) in length, although a fully grown whale shark can reach up to an incredible 65 feet (20 meters) long. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 62 feet (18.8 meters). Found throughout the world’s tropical and warm, temperate seas, it gets its name from its large size (as big as whales)!
I’VE HEARD ABOUT MEGALODON—IS IT REAL?
Megalodon (scientifically known as Otodus megalodon but was previously Carcharodon or Carcharocles megalodon) is a gigantic shark that lived nearly worldwide in tropical-temperate regions up until around 2.6 million years ago. It is known almost exclusively from fossilized teeth and is regarded as one of the largest carnivores, if not superpredators, that have ever lived on Earth.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST THREATS TO SHARKS?
Overfishing and bycatch are by far the biggest threats to sharks. Overfishing is catching too many fish at once, so the breeding population can’t properly recover. Bycatch is closely tied to overfishing—it’s the capture of unwanted animals while fishing for a different species.
Pollution, climate change, and shark finning are some of the other big threats facing these animals. About 32 percent of the world’s sharks and rays are threatened with extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, with ray species found to be at a higher risk than sharks.
HOW IS CLIMATE CHANGE GOING TO IMPACT SHARKS?
Climate change is predicted to have quite an impact on sharks! Changes to migratory patterns, food availability, and even altered brain development are all predicted as our oceans continue to change due to climate change.
HOW CAN WE HELP SHARKS?
Here are some good ways to help:
How we talk about animals matters. Talk to your friends about how cool and important sharks are!
Question everything. Does a story or headline seem really scary? Do some research and see what the real truth is.
Donate your allowance/birthday money to organizations that study and protect our oceans.
When you grow up and can, volunteer with organizations that study and protect our oceans.
Abuela = grandmother
Abuelos = grandparents
Azul = blue
Basta = enough
Brillante idea = brilliant idea
Buenos días, mija = good morning, daughter
Familia = family
Hermano = brother
Hombres = men
¡Levántate! = Get up!/Wake up!
¡Lo tengo! = I’ve got it!
Mamá, puedes decirme otra vez? = Mom, can you tell me again?
Mamá/Mami = mother
Mi cariño = my darling
Mija = my daughter
Mijo = my son
Moneda = coin
Papá/Papi = father
Tienes que escucharme = you need to listen to me
Traje de baño = swimsuit
Vámonos = Let’s go
Amma = mother
Ayubowan = long life (the word used in Sri Lanka to greet someone)
karauṇaākara = please
Kohomada? = How are you?
Suba davask! = Have a nice day!
“Adrianna! Feye! Come meet us in the lobby,” Mom shouted over the intercom.
I was busy reapplying a bandage to Rowan’s paw. The injured lion cub was the newest member at the zoo. Rowan was usually fidgety, but after we played a game of tug-of-war, he quieted down enough to let me fix the bandages he had muddied during his run around the zoo’s outdoor enclosure. The squeak of a door alerted Rowan to company, and the cub quickly scurried away from my lap and tried to hide in a corner. After having been kidnapped by poachers in the wild, he was still afraid of most humans.
With a frown, I turned to the door. My older brother leaned against the frame. “Mom texted me, too,” Feye said. “That new producer is on his way over to tell us more about where we’re going.”
I stood up, about to respond, when an automated message interrupted my thoughts. “Thank you for visiting Sacred Sanctuary and Zoological Park. The zoo will be closing in ten minutes. Please start making your way to the exit now.” With a final pat of Rowan’s fuzzy head, I left the enclosure and headed down the hall to the Wildlife Hospital.
“I’m really excited about this new show, but I’m going to miss Alessi,” I said, looking down at my phone to see if my best friend had messaged me back. Her mom was one of the big cat caretakers and sometimes she came into work with her. We waved goodbye to some employees as we went to meet our parents in the visitors’ center lobby. I looked up at my big brother, waiting for him to respond. He had recently dyed his black, wiry hair to a shocking blond that stood out against his dark skin and brown eyes.
My parents adopted Feye when I was just a baby. I’ve only ever known him as my big brother, even if we don’t look alike. Our parents liked to joke that we were as thick as thieves, and called our adventures “Feye and Adrianna missions,” because my mom was convinced we were on a mission to give her gray hairs. When we traveled along the Orinoco River in Venezuela, we brought
piranhas into our tents to study how they ate, only to end up with bite marks and fishy-smelling blankets. During our last trip to Malaysia, we gave a group of orangutans all our bananas from our fruit stash. They made a terrible mess!
“I know you’ll miss Alessi, but the Wild Survival! show has really taken off. We’re going from a YouTube show to actual TV! Think of all the new animals we’ll get to help here at the zoo. It’s a good thing,” Feye said, stretching his arms above his head and then ruffling my black hair. As I squirmed from his grip and ran through the visitors’ center doors, I saw our dad motioning for us to hurry up.
Around here, Mom and Dad are famous. Well, as famous as wildlife conservationists can be. They had a popular YouTube channel called Wild Survival! where for years they showcased our family’s travels around the world. We rescue animals from all over and then nurse them back to health at the zoo. The YouTube channel was originally just a way for them to share their passion for animals with a bigger audience, but lately we had gotten super popular. So popular that a television producer named Mr. Savage had recently reached out to my parents, asking if they wanted to do a television network show. My parents had jumped at the chance because a network show meant more money to fund animal rescues, and an opportunity to take our love of animals to a whole new audience.
I’d been begging our parents to let me help them with animal rescues on the YouTube channel, but they had a strict rule: “No on-screen until you turn thirteen.” Something about keeping us safe and wanting to make sure we were mature enough to be in front of the camera. Blah blah blah. Feye got to be on camera and he made fart jokes at dinnertime—how mature is that?!
I had just recently turned twelve (¡un año más!) and my parents had given me the best news: that The Rule was about to go away because Mr. Savage said the television network wanted to involve the whole family in front of the cameras! There were still rules (of course! Sigh).
Safety first! If Mom and Dad thought a situation wasn’t safe, Feye and I had to stop what we were doing immediately and get out of harm’s way.
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