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July 28th, 2008
09:01 PM ET
Anderson up close with sharks
Anderson Cooper on assignment in South Africa for Planet In Peril: Battle Lines, sees sharks up close. real close.
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Filed under: Anderson Cooper • Planet in Peril • T1 |
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Hey Anderson, what's up with you and Africa? We are still waiting to hear a story.
Anderson,
I love your current Planet In Peril: Battle Lines adventure among these majestic warriors of the sea, the great whites. Thank you so much for all you share with your viewers from around the world. Take care and God Bless.
Hi Anderson,
Cool video. Looks very exciting! I'm looking forward to the Planet in Peril segment. Thanks for all you do. Take care, see you later.
Welcome to South Africa, the most beautiful and profound place on earth.
Not sure what angle you are taking with the shark story – the diving is controversial here with some people believing that the baiting causes sharks to move into areas that people use for swimming and surfing and therefore could be harming sharks (as well as people :-)) in the long run. As with many other environmental issues the moral ambiguity makes it difficult to know what's right – do we allow the diving and raise concern about the sharks in general and create jobs, but at the same time create a potential problem for humans and the sharks?
Generally speaking in South Africa people care for the environment – our longest running actuality programme on the public broadcaster is an environmental programme. But even though we are first world in being able to define environmentally friendly strategies, implementing and monitoring them becomes very difficult. And it is because there is often a moral dilemma – for example, do you stop people doing subsistence farming in an environmentally sensitive area and thereby deprive them of their livelihood in order to save the environment?
It sometimes seem as if our inability to reconcile democratic principles – i.e. the rights of the individual with the holistic needs of the planet and short term survival with longer term sustainability causes a lot of inaction. I guess we will need to rethink some of the intentions of democracy if we are going to save the planet.
Dear Anderson,
I admire your courage even in the ocean.
I look at your life and draw strength from what you do.
I trust in your intelligence to bring us this report and be back safely.
I thank you and keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Lisa L
Sydney, Australia
Good to see you are living out your dreams and passions while also keeping the world informed. How does it feel to almost swim with the sharks? Does it come close to what you have dreamed of? As always, thanks for sharing!
Dear Anderson,
U r doing lot with the sharks but what about the Kashmir, I hardly have heard from you about Kashmir. U might be knowing that we are frustrated with the illegal occupation of India.. Can u please cover some time news of Kashmir on humenaterian grounds.
Regards
Awww Anderson, that is amazing, I really look forward to it! Your dedication to Planet in Peril is awe-inspiring!
*love*
Thanks for sharing the video and keeping us informed. Take care of yourself. Stay safe.
I guess you could say Anderson has almost seen and done it all. Now if only he could go up in space to the space station or the moon and do a really good in depth interview on how important our space program is and how we really do need it.Or deep water diving?
OMG YOU LUCKY MAN!
I am so jealous of you right now, Anderson. You have NO IDEA what I would give for an opportunity like that. Thank you for covering our oceans in this next PIP segment. I cannot wait to see the way it all comes together.
Congratulations on your experience with our oceans magnificent and beautiful fish.
He says he's not scared....hmmmm...but in the water, in a wetsuit, we can't really tell if he peed his pants when the shark rammed the cage...
See, that's the basic difference between us, you're down behind the bars marveling at the wonder of it all.
I'd be down there, trying to get out of the cage to get a closer look, mouthing "Bring it on!" to Mr. Shark.
Go find some dolphins to play with; they're fun.
Enjoy. I hear the surf's good in South Africa.
Very nice change from politics, thank you. I would like to ask what makes the shark so hungry for chum that he would shake off his natural aversion for the strangeness of all this? He is not blind, but hungry. Why is this more so now? Or is it? Thank you again, always like when AC is away from the desk and at his best.
So that's what you've been up to!
Didn't you once compare yourself to a shark?–Notice any sympatico?
Anyhow, you are very lucky & it's very awesome! Can't wait for PIP2!
As always, what you do is amazing.
Stay safe, & come back soon.
Hi Anderson
You have the best job in the world,the sharks are beautiful please stay safe have fun,
OMG
You are going to have some great stories to tell your kids....just survive long enough to do that...lol.
Anyway, I hear sharks don't like lean foods, so you are safe.
WOW Anderson what an Adventure. You’ve got to be excited, just thrilled to bits having experience a dunk so close to Sharks!! What an experience!! Africa has some beautiful marine and plant life and awesome game wildlife, believe me I know. I was born, raised in that environment, and I miss is dearly.
Campbell asked us last night if we thought you were scared to get up close and personal near the Sharks. My response was – “Campbell – Anderson Scared – NEVER!! ......Well....let’s hope not!!”
From the looks of it you were having a blast!! You’ve got to be one of the luckiest Journalists ever!! You Lucky devil!! Have an awesome week!!
Anderson,missed you on Monday,but enjoyed seeing you with the sharks,i !am a teacher and i learn from all your adventures!
HAVE A GREAT TIME!
Man. That was scary. I am scared of sharks. A teenager here in Alabama found a 3 foot long Bull shark in Lake Guntersville, Al this week. I do not know if it was dead or alive when he found it. They said they can live in fresh water but I do not know how long. I will think twice about going swimming now, fresh water or not! I only used to have to worry about snakes! They don't eat much.
Hi Andy,
I thought when you said you went scuba-diving the other day, you'd be watching dolphins, but today watching this video sent shivers down me with you and the sharks. But I always remember that you feel restless like the shark and you've always got to keep moving- in your book. I'm glad the sharks were kind and not in a nippy mood. And above all you are safe. So is that your last shark assignment? I hope it is. It makes me nervous. Weren't you nervous?
Have a great time in South Africa and blog about it on "Anderson's View". Its been a long time since you blogged. Looking forward to seeing you back Anderson and stay safe.
Hellooo Anderson!!!!!!
Awesome!!!! I can't wait see you PIP2, I am so nervous about you, I was so afraid of shark!!!!!!! I know you are so scary of shark!!!! I am going to watch you tonight in South Africa!!!! I am thinking about you so much! and just brave of you!!!! I love you, I am praying for you so hard!!!! Take care youself Anderson 🙂 OXOX
Megan D.
Shoreline,Wa
Wow.....
that is amazing. But please be safe.
No thanks, I do NOT want to ever be that close to sharks.
Something tells me that swimming with the sharks is more calm than covering an election? Great footage.
Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.
You are amazing Anderson!
Ha! Have fun Anderson. Very cool.
Anderson: Well, better you than me! I admit, that did look pretty cool though. Good luck on your quest! I hope we see more, you've got me intrigued.
Jolene, St. Joseph, MI
Anderson,
Hi! The video is incredible. I'm glad you weren't frightened, but stay safe! The second Planet in Peril looks great–the places you've been to are quite beautiful. I look forward to seeing its entirety.
Anderson:
that really IS an up close and personal look at sharks,but a little TOO close for myself personally,though.
It must be an incredible experience!
I am really looking forward to the next Planet In Peril,and cannot wait to see where your travels take you next.
Please take care.
Very cool Anderson! I can't wait to see the series.
By the way, do you still feel like a shark? 😉
Thanks!
Awesome, but scary too!
Awesome!!
That was great Anderson – the sharks were beautiful and I bet it was truly exciting to see them that close in their own environment. Great video of the sharks – I can hardly wait to see this on PIP this fall.
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
I had a feeling that when Anderson said he took scuba lessons that he was going to be in the water with sharks!! I just hope he remembered to breath! LOL
Cindy...Ga.
That was awesome Anderson! Quite exhilarating, I'm sure! I can't wait to see your other adventures on this trip!
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington
Just remember AC, it is their pool!!
Wow Anderson I guess that was what you were up to Friday. Awesome adventure and great video. While I was watching it I was thinking about the part in the beginning of Dispatches when you talk about watching shark documentaries as a child. Now that you have done this I hope you got your fix because it is a little scary watching you in the water with sharks
I am so looking forward to PIP2!
That shark was absolutely beautiful!
Hi Anderson,
You are brave and amazing. So looking forward to PIP this fall.
Lucky Anderson!
As usual, I envy you!! Enjoy!