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Villain
Rania Z
Age: 14
​Houston, Texas

It stalks the waters, simmering beneath the surface.
It is relentless in its search, miles traversed for its prey.
    Nothing escapes it's radar, nothing undetected in the waters,
for nothing escapes their beady eyes.
 
These silent predators are at the top,
the kings of the food chain,
They don’t hesitate to act.
They run rampant across the waters.
 
Grining, the brilliant white is paradoxical,
For to bare one’s teeth is to show hostility.
And not one survives in the path of terror,
 
A casualty is expected, and vengeance to be paid,

The hunt is long, it takes nights of unrest.
But prey is no match for the predator.
The shark is caught, but the villain not yet vanquished.
Bibliography

“100 Million Sharks Killed Every Year, Study Shows On Eve of International Conference on Shark Protection.” National Geographic, 1 May 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/people-and-culture/onward/2013/03/01/100-million-sharks-killed-every-year-study-shows-on-eve-of-international-conference-on-shark-protection/
“Yearly Worldwide Shark Attack Summary.” Florida Museum, 15 Feb. 2019, www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/yearly-worldwide-summary/


Poet's thoughts on why she choose this species:
Portrayed by the media as ruthless, blood-thirsty, and terrifying, sharks are often seen as a much bigger threat to humans then we are to them.  Despite this popularized outlook on them, sharks are actually quite docile creatures. Incidents involving sharks and the potential injuries are largely attributed to curiosity or mistaken prey.  Furthermore, the staggering 100 million sharks estimated to be killed annually is emphatically more than the averaged 130 cases, 35 of which are usually provoked.
With the increasing amount of endangered shark species and the adverse impact that humans have on the environment, it’s important to remember that creatures are not always as they are depicted, and the true villain of stories may be ourselves.

Resources to explore:
  • National Geographic ( Article) - 100 Million Sharks Killed Every Year, Study Shows On Eve of International Conference on Shark Protection
  • Florida Museum of Natural History (Article) : Yearly Worldwide Shark Attack Summary
  • Project Aware ((Infographic): State of Global Market for Shark Products
  • National Public Radio (Article): Sharks Have Few Places To Hide From Fishing, Study Shows

Editor's note:

Who To Support:
  • The Pew Charitable Trusts
  • WildAid​
  • Sea Shepherd
  • Project Aware (Has a global presence)

Back To Current Issue ​​
Web Design and Site Managed by Sarah Siraj 
Content Research and Photographs by Ayesha Siraj
 
  • Home
  • My Story
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
    • Anniversary Edition (5 year)
    • Bald Eagle >
      • Photo Gallery - Bald Eagle (Fall 2017)
    • Climate Change
    • Common Sense Advocacy
    • Conversations on Conservation I
    • Conversations on Conservation II
    • Conversations on Conservation - Part III
    • Conversations on Conservation: Part IV
    • Conversations on Conservations: Part V
    • Conversations on Conservation: Part VI
    • Coral Reef >
      • Photo Gallery: Coral Reef (Spring 2016)
    • Ecology, Economics and Evolution
    • Elephant
    • Flying Fox
    • Gopher Tortoise, Eastern Indigo Snake and Gopher Frog >
      • Photo Gallery: Gopher Tortoise (Spring 2019)
    • Honeybee >
      • A Day in the Life of a Honey Bee
      • Nature at Work
      • Colony Collapse Disorder
      • Photo Gallery: Honeybee (Winter 2014)
    • Invasive Species
    • Lion
    • Monarch Butterfly
    • Native Orchids >
      • Photo Gallery - Orchids (Winter 2017)
    • Pitcher Plant Moth, Happy-Face Spider & Ogre-Faced Spider
    • Tiger >
      • Photo Gallery: Tiger ( Fall 2015)
    • Water
  • How can you help?
  • More...
    • Contact
    • Feedback
    • Bibliography