I talk up sharks a lot because they’re not as loved as other animals but they suffer a lot due to heavy bias against them and lack of knowledge; but please keep in mind that you need to have a healthy respect for these Apex predators as well.
A shark can 100% kill you (not generally on purpose, but still) and you should always show caution around unfamiliar animals.
But I do very much think it’s still okay to think of sharks as adorable sea puppies. Cuteness inspires the nurturing instinct of humans, so promoting sharks as adorable babes and helping people to associate them with animals we already believe are cute (puppies & kittens) is actually a good thing.
But just like you should never touch a cat or a dog that you are not familiar with (unless an owner/caretaker says its okay); this same logic needs to be applied to sharks. If you want to get up close and personal to sharks and pet them and do whatever, please make sure you’re doing so under the supervision of a professional who is trained to be around these fearsome animals and that you are following all proper safety procedures.
Sharks are worth our love, but they are also deserving of our respect; and that means knowing well enough to acknowledge that sometimes these large predators attack without provocation and can seriously injure or kill an unprepared person.
A Quiet Respite 