LAST LOOK

‘Encountering wild sharks in their element and witnessing the million-year-old battle between predator and prey is a tome, . ‘Their wildness is real, and I treat each shark encounter with respect and a generous dose of humility. For me, sharks are story-tellers that communicate some of the most pressing issues facing our oceans.’ Peschak captured these juvenile Galapagos sharks as a light was shone from a boat into the lagoon of Bassas da India, a remote atoll in the Mozambique Channel, west of Madagascar. Despite their name, Galapagos sharks are found all around the world, usually in tropical waters. While not classified as endangered, humans are their biggest threat; fishing depletes their numbers through bycatch and in some places, they’re targeted commercially for shark fin soup while their teeth, bones and oil are used for jewellry and traditional medicines. A slow reproductive rate means that populations recover slowly. Young sharks are also prone to cannibalism by adults.