Who says they're scary? Shark-whisperer sends Great White into a trance with a quick tickle of his snout




At first glance, it looks as though this terrifying Great White is rising up ready to take off this man's arm.

But the 16ft predator is actually blissfully unaware of any need to catch some prey.

He is instead enjoying a dream-like trance courtesy of shark-whisperer Andre Hartman.

Touchy-feely: Shark-whisperer Andre Hartman reaches out to tickle the snout of a Great White, a technique that sends it into a trance-like state in the waters off the coast of South Africa

Please don't bite! Andre shows incredible cool, placing his life in the shark's fins

Calming a killer: Andre enticed the 16ft predator to the surface near Dyer Island, off Gansbaai, with bait and the had to courage to place his hand right next to its gaping jaws

Brave Andre is able to hypnotise sharks by simply tickling their snout, one of its most sensitive places, causing the animal to become overwhelmed by the stimulation.



This incredible sight was captured by U.S. photographer, Doug Perrine, off the coast of South Africa.

'I was there to obtain pictures of a shark raising its heads out of the water and opening its mouth - as Andre was able to produce,' explained Doug.

'The shark was attracted by the scent of the bait that is put out. Andre reached down and tickled the underside of the shark's snout, while gently lifting up.

'This part of the shark's body is loaded with nerve endings, and the creature's sensory system became overloaded from the stimulus.

'The shark seemed to enter a pleasant, but confused state where it was dreamily seeking the source of the stimulus. So there was no trigger for the shark to attack anything.'

Amazing technique: Previously a spear-fisherman, Doug has learned that sharks are not intent on hunting humans so it is possible to interact with them safely

Endangered: Great Whites are classified as a vulnerable species because of the threat to their food by fishing

Great white sharks are classified as a vulnerable species because of the threat to their food by fishing.

They are also the victims of the Asian shark fin industry - where these mighty hunters are killed for just a small part of their body - their distinctive shark's fin.

These are cut off their bodies and turned into soup, which can cost up to £100 a bowl in China.

Doug explained how Andre perfected his amazing technique for 'hypnotising' sharks.

'Andre is a former spear-fisherman, who had encounters with great white sharks while free-diving and spearing fish in the waters of Cape Province, South Africa,' said Doug.

'Although initially terrified, like most people, by the appearance of these massive predators, over years of observation he gradually realised that they are intelligent, curious animals.

'He understood that sharks are not out hunting people, and it is possible to interact with them with little danger once you understand how they communicate.'

Up close: A lethal great white shark enjoyed a nose nickle, courtesy of shark-whisperer Andre Hartman

Coming right at you: These incredible pictures have helped Andre understand more about the nature of the Great White



