INTERVIEW: SharkFest returns with ‘Bull Shark vs. Hammerhead’
Photo: SharkFest will feature Bull Shark vs. Hammerhead, a special program that centers on the interactions between these two apex predators. Photo courtesy of National Geographic for Disney / Mike Heithaus / Provided by press site with permission.
It’s not summertime until SharkFest returns to National Geographic, and this year’s programming promises plenty of shark-tastic entertainment with these ocean creatures seemingly posing for the cameras. One of the most anticipated specials is Bull Shark vs. Hammerhead, which premieres Monday, July 3 at 10 p.m. on Nat Geo. Repeating viewings takes place July 7 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 and July 28 at 9 p.m. on Nat Geo WILD. Disney+ and Hulu will also stream the special, starting today, July 2.
On Bull Shark vs. Hammerhead, a team of researchers from Florida International University head into the ocean waters to see the interactions between these two apex predators. Are they friendly with each other? Do they have built-in antagonism against each other? Do they compete for the same food source? Do they ever attack each other?
Featured in the episode are Dr. Mike Heithaus, of FIU, and one of his Ph.D. candidates, Davon Strickland. Together with other researchers they head into the waters to find these two species and start recording their unique behaviors. Strickland, who used to be the captain of the FIU football team, said he fell in love with marine biology back when he was 11 or 12 years old. He remembers watching programming on TV like SharkFest and focusing his studies on all things shark.
“I was always interested in watching those [specials] and being in those environments,” Strickland said in a recent phone interview. “I’ve always loved science, and I’ve always loved math. I’ve always loved the ocean. I was like, you know what, why not go down this road?”
Strickland has been at FIU for approximately six years, and he recently finished his first year of grad school. He had considered attaining only a master’s degree, but he decided to make a career out of shark science and go after the Ph.D. instead. So he jumped into the waters of higher education and never looked back.
“I got associated with Mike back in the fall of 2019,” he said. “I never really had any opportunities to get into the field because football took most of my time. On top of that, COVID-19 hit. That kind of shut everything down as well, so it wasn’t until last spring, Mike was like, ‘We’re planning to do some stuff up in West Palm. Would you be down to come on the boat with us and start to get some field work?’ I was obviously down. I was waiting to get into the field to get those kind of opportunities, and then he also dropped in, ‘Hey, also, National Geographic is going to be there.’ I think it was right place, right time, but when he dropped that news, I was really, really excited because it was always something I had seen on TV. So finally being able to get that opportunity to be there was super.”
Strickland added: “I believe definitely programs like SharkFest are really great ways to advertise shark sciences. Again, going back to my story, this is how I got interested in shark sciences, not just marine biology alone.”
The special Bull Shark vs. Hammerhead is a one-hour program that looks at the interaction between the two species. Strickland remembers a video surfacing a few years ago of these two predators together in the ocean, and their interactions were quite unpredictable. Because of this, Strickland and his fellow researchers wanted to get into the water to investigate further.
“I would say it provides some really good answers,” Strickland said of the special. “My curiosity kind of overshadows my fear. I’ve always been fascinated by these creatures. I’ve always been fascinated by sharks. I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean in general.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Bull Shark vs. Hammerhead, featuring Davon Strickland, premieres on SharkFest Monday, July 3 at 10 p.m. on National Geographic. Click here for more information.
