Why Sharks Cannot Survive Long on Land
Marine life, particularly creatures like the great white shark, are adapted to an aquatic existence. Their bodies are suited for navigating the ocean’s depths, hunting prey, and performing all life functions underwater. This specialized design means that venturing onto land presents significant challenges, turning what is a natural environment for terrestrial animals into a hostile and life-threatening environment for sharks.
One primary reason sharks cannot survive long out of water relates to their respiratory system. Sharks breathe by extracting oxygen from water as it passes over their gills. Many species, including the great white, rely on a process called ram ventilation, where they must constantly swim forward to force water over their gills. Without the continuous flow of water, their gill filaments, delicate and water-supported, begin to collapse and fuse together. This collapse reduces the surface area available for oxygen absorption, leading to suffocation.
The body weight of a great white shark also becomes a detriment outside of its buoyant aquatic environment. In water, buoyancy counteracts their mass, allowing them to move with ease. On land, however, gravity exerts its full force, causing their internal organs to be crushed under their own weight. This internal pressure can lead to rapid damage to vital organs such as the liver, which is large and dense in sharks, compromising their survival.
While not the immediate cause of death, exposure to air also contributes to their distress through thermoregulation and desiccation. Sharks are accustomed to the stable temperatures of their marine habitat. Out of water, they are susceptible to overheating, and their skin can begin to dry out. These factors exacerbate stress from respiratory failure and organ damage, hastening their death.
The Reality of Being Out of Water
The survival time for a great white shark out of water is very short, typically a few minutes to a few hours. This limited duration is a direct consequence of the physiological distress caused by the lack of water.
When stranded, a shark experiences stress as it struggles to breathe and support its own weight. Deprived of water, the shark rapidly suffocates due to a lack of oxygen and a build-up of carbon dioxide. Simultaneously, the bulk of the shark’s body, unsupported by water, compresses its internal structures.
The outcome of a great white shark being out of water is usually fatal without intervention. Most instances involve strandings, where the shark is washed ashore. While efforts are sometimes made to return these animals to the ocean, the internal damage sustained during even a short period on land often proves irreversible. The combination of asphyxiation, organ crushing, and stress leads to death in most cases.