Today, I’m going to talk about one of the viral videos in social media as well as in YouTube which showcase a teenage boy in a shark cage expressing his experience. It was originally podcasted by Discovery Channel under a television program called “Shark Week”. His name is Robert Irwin and sometimes it may be a familiar name to you. Without more introductions let’s see who this is and what is this show.
Figure 1: from Facebook
Robert Irwin has astonished his fans by facing off with a Great White Shark. The 19-year-old zookeeper and conservationist undertook this daring feat for a Discovery+ ‘Crikey It’s Shark Week’ special. A video uploaded to YouTube captures the celebrity Wildlife Warrior as he wears a wetsuit and scuba gear before being lowered into a shark-proof cage in waters known for shark activity. In a heart-stopping moment in the video, Robert comes within arm’s length of a 13-foot (3.9-meter) male shark as it gracefully swims by his cage. “He made a beeline right for the cage, that was amazing,” Robert exclaims on-camera in reaction to encountering the giant creature.
Figure 2: from Discovery Channel
Sometimes you may have not heard about this Robert Irwin. At the age of 17, Robert bravely encountered his first Great White Shark, a significant moment he had shared with his fans. At just 19 years old, Robert Irwin has already established himself as a published wildlife photographer, conservationist, Australian television personality, actor, and zookeeper. His father, Steve Irwin, famously known as the Crocodile Hunter, was the preeminent figure in wildlife conservation and education during the 1990s to the early 2000s. Tragically, Steve Irwin passed away in September 2006 due to a fatal injury from a short-tail stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. So, as you can see, the passion of wildlife runs in the genes of this young guy.
Figure 3: from Discovery Channel
Now let’s see what this “Shark Week” is. Shark Week is an annual week-long television programming event on the Discovery Channel dedicated to shark-themed content. For the first, it was premiered on July 17, 1988. Taking place in July or early August each year, its initial focus was on shark conservation and dispelling misconceptions about these creatures. Over time, it gained immense popularity and became a hallmark of the Discovery Channel. Since 2010, it holds the record as the longest-running event in cable television history. Broadcasted in over 72 countries, Shark Week receives extensive promotion on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Viewers can also purchase episodes on platforms such as Google Play Movies & TV/YouTube, Amazon Video, and iTunes. Certain episodes are accessible for free on subscription-based services like Hulu and Discovery+.
