Sharks stalk victims like serial killers

GREAT white sharks have some things in common with human serial killers: They don't attack at random, but stalk specific victims.

Researchers used a serial killer profiling method to figure out just how the fearsome ocean predator hunts, something that's been hard to observe beneath the surface.

They were focused. They stalked from a usual base of operations, 90m from their victims.

It was close enough to see their prey, but not close enough to be seen and scare off their victims. They attacked when the lights were low. They liked their victims young and alone. They tried to attack when no other sharks were around to compete. They learned from previous kills.

And they attacked from below, unseen.

Older sharks did better and were more stealthy than younger, smaller sharks, demonstrating that learning was occurring, he said.

There's a big difference between great white sharks and serial killers and it comes down to motive.