I agree with Walter, there is less feedback from Asia...
possibly the reason is partly to do with cultural philosophy in that if somebody is attacked by a shark in waters where sharks live then that is all just part of life. Also, while they are probably reported locally, the don't make the press in the West (or Australia, for that matter). If a bull shark kills a person in the Ganges (which happens occaisionally), we're unlikely to hear about it in Europe or America or wherever unless it was a European or American tourist that was involved. How often do you read reports of people being killed by Hippos, which are much more freqent than shark attacks? You can bet your bottom dollar/euro/pound that if a hippo at london zoo stomped on somebody it would be national news in 27 countries.
Some of the species we like to think are responsible for attacks - such as the great white - are entirely absent from asian waters; the oceanic white tip should be there, but strangely seems to be missing from large parts of the asia-pacific region, although tigers and bulls are all over the place.
I will offer one reason why shark attacks are on the decline - which is that since the early 20th century, there were many, many, many more sharks in the ocean than there are today. That is a much more sombre reason than a few unlucky souls who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Love the sharks, before they're all gone.
C.
