Video shows him stroking the heads of tiger sharks feeding on the carcass of a dead whale in Western Australia. Amazingly, he was sitting on the whale while patting the sharks. Mr Deschamps hopes the images will dispel "myths" that tiger sharks are blood-thirsty, man-eating monsters.
Scientists discovered the group of sharks feasting on the carcass of a dead whale during a field trip to collect genetic samples as part of the Shark Bay Ecosystem Research Project, 853km north of Perth, in August.
The sharks appear nonchalant despite the close attention from Mr Deschamps and other conservationists perched on their feast. "Tiger sharks are not aggressive and I thought the most effective way to demonstrate that would be by throwing ourselves into the middle of a feeding frenzy," Mr Deschamps said.
"They were so sedate in their movements and were far from aggressive despite it being a time when they are supposed to be at their most ferocious. I think they enjoyed the experience."
But a Department of Environment and Conservation spokesman warned that touching whales is illegal and people are encouraged not to interfere with sharks because of the risk of attack. "This is highly irresponsible and dangerous behaviour and puts peoples lives at risk," the spokesman said.
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