Having heard horror stories about Stingray attacks from others who have been wade fishing in Galveston Bay (TX), I always considered them quite dangerous. The stinger will tear flesh from bone and the pain is almost unbearable. So, my wife told me about folks who went out on cruises and "pet" Stingrays. I thought, "That's Nuts!" A few weeks later, Steve Irwin died from a Stingray "attack". In nature, an animal acts instinctively to defend itself and/or feed itself. When you are not a "normal" part of an animal's ecosystem, it is likely that you are going to be thought of as a threat or food. I'm an engineer, not a scientist. It doesn't take 20 years of hacked statistics to teach me common sense. Ladies and gentlemen, do not do this at home!

Petting is old new...how about cuddling :) Skip to 3:00 in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0nTYvRcPa8

My money is on somebody becoming lunch very soon...

If they are so brave maybe they should attempt to dive with these beautiful sharks... just like the guys are now doing in False Bay with great whites' - no cages, nothing.

if they can be pet like that, why not jump in the water and pet it? possible a big lovely hug too?

Great, if there is any sort of training or memory going on with the shark, now the shark will equate human smells with food. I doubt the shark can really feel the 'petting' that much, but I bet it can smell the humans!! $10 bucks says they just trained it to eat humans.

Does anybody remember shark week a few years ago with the guy who thought he could wade in 3ft of water with a dozen or so bull sharks swimming around him? Look what happened to him. nj is right, conservation from a safe distance.

Sorry if I seem harsh, it's just that I love sharks and these animals deserve a certain respect for a reason, regardless of reputation.

This video is so incredibly irresponsible. These guys tout themselves as researchers? Now every Tom and Jane with a boat is going to be climbing over dead whales to "pet" a shark. The upside of this video is that natural selection is very intolerant of the "stupid".

nj's comment x 1. killers or not, there is no need.

Not disrespectful just a little misleading. All it proves to me is that they zone out everything around them when they feed. Let me see them try that when they are the only flesh in the water. IMO doesn't really show anything.

This reminds me of a certain bear whisperer. I think most people know what happened to him and his colleague.

Conservation is awesome, but the key is conservation from a safe distance.