beneath the surface of the ocean we can find a hidden world, vast and full of life. it is a world of mystery, where light fades into darkness, and silence is filled with the whispers of unseen creatures. but beneath all this beauty, a battle rages—a battle not of war, but of survival.

sharks, the guardians of the oceans, have ruled these waters for longer than humans have roamed the earth, keeping the ocean in balance. yet they are hunted, misunderstood, and feared, with around 100 million sharks killed globally each year. this is the story of one shark, caught in the struggle between survival and extinction. a creature feared as a monster but destined to be a protector.

people call me a monster, a murderer. but if i wasn’t important, i wouldn’t have a place in the ocean. without me, the ocean would die. i am lurking in the deep, gliding through the water watching the sunlight dance on the waves above. i hunt the weak, the sick, keeping the ocean healthy and thriving. when a human sees me, they only see fear. looking at my sharp teeth or the shape of my body, they swim away in fear. but they don’t understand that without sharks like me, the ocean would be a desert, a blue lifeless desert.

after a night’s sleep, i wake up, ready to hunt. but even when i sleep, i am never truly at rest. only half of my brain sleeps, while the other half remains awake, keeping me alert to any predators. my eyes never fully close. no, i am not the biggest animal in the ocean. orcas, larger sharks, and, of course, humans are my predators. having this unique ability helps me survive.

like you, i also need to eat. i spend most of my day swimming alone, searching for food. i am a solitary hunter. when i find a fish that looks like a good meal, i approach carefully, circling it from a distance, watching its every move. then, with a burst of speed, i strike, biting it before my prey even realizes i am there. that first attack is enough to weaken it, making an escape impossible.

i play a crucial role in the ocean. by hunting the sick and the weak, i ensure that only the strongest fish survive. i also keep fish populations in check. if certain fish become too abundant, they can destroy algae beds and disrupt the delicate balance of the ocean.

yet, despite my importance, you fear me. you judge me by my sharp teeth and the stories you’ve heard. but the truth is, i should fear you more than you fear me. every year, humans kill an estimated 100 million sharks, while sharks only kill around 10 humans annually. i don’t hunt humans. i approach out of curiosity, wondering what these strange creatures with two legs and no fins are.

but something is wrong. i am becoming hungrier. there are fewer fish, and i don’t understand why. when i gather with others to reproduce, i notice fewer and fewer sharks. our numbers are falling. something is happening to my ocean, and i don’t know if it will ever be the same.

suddenly, i see a fish’s tail flicker in the distance. hunger takes over. instinct drives me forward. i don’t think, i just act. i lunge at my prey, jaws open, ready to strike.

then pain.

a sharp, unnatural pull tugs at my lip. i try to escape, but something is holding me back. the ocean around me feels wrong. i try to dive, but i can’t. i am stuck, pulled upward, against my will. the light gets brighter. the water gets thinner. i break the surface, gasping, but i am no longer in control.

i am being taken.

it doesn’t feel right. i can hear loud noises, feel rough hands grabbing me and placing me on the boat. i try escaping but i can’t. i’m trying to breathe, but i am suddenly paralysed. after a few minutes i become unconscious.

by surprise i wake up, disoriented. this feels wrong, the water is different, thinner and unnatural. i am surrounded by invisible walls. i don’t see the vast blue horizon like i used to. i decide to swim forward searching for a way out. i swim and swim but there is nowhere to go. i am stuck in a cage made from glass. doomed to swim in circles for the rest of my life.

suddenly i feel a vibration through the glass. i go to take a closer look and see these strange, pale fleshy objects pressing against the glass. hands. these creatures are humans. a small one comes closer and presses her hands against the glass. her wide eyes look into mine, then she runs away in fear. and she screams, “it is going to eat me? look at his teeth; they are so pointy!”

this happens every day. small humans press their faces in on the glass, make faces at me or sometimes scream. but then in the background i hear a voice, the voice of an angel, calm unlike the rest. “don’t be scared; sharks are not dangerous!” amazed by this voice i turn toward the sound. this human speaks not with fear but with passion. in a calm voice, she explains, “did you know that sharks only kill 10 humans a year?”

the children looked at her with surprise.

she carried on talking with such passion and says, “but do you know how many sharks are killed by humans every year? around 100 million, so who are the real monsters?”

the children were all gobsmacked and responded, “wait, are we really more dangerous than sharks?” the brilliant scientist answered, “yes, we are. sharks are incredible animals, so vital for the ocean’s health. the first shark appeared over 400 million years ago, long before dinosaurs were around. and if they have survived for so long, this means that they have an essential role in the balance of the ocean.“

the children turned to look at me. i could see that the fear in their eyes had turned into curiosity. questions poured from their mouths, their excitement growing. and then one child, smaller than the others, said softly, “i thought they were monsters… but they are not. we need them and i want to protect them.”

for the first time since being trapped i saw a glimmer of hope. if these children could understand, then maybe one day the entire world would, too. maybe one day, everyone will see me for what i truly am. not a monster, but a guardian and a protector of the sea. until then, i wait, watching and hoping that it will change.