Sharks, cows and other murderous beasties

Aside from the usual tales of murder, mayhem and madness that are the distressingly staple diet of daily news reports, sharks have been raising their heads for what has become more than 15 minutes of fame this year, with another couple trying to get their teeth into celebrity status recently.

From some of the reports, you'd think it wasn't safe to go anywhere near the sea in case you found yourself staring into the gaping, saw-toothed maw of a great white. Yet, unless you habitually ride a surfboard or otherwise splash around in their dining rooms, you are very unlikely to have an encounter with a toothy diner looking for a take-away.

Even if you do venture beyond dipping your toes in the water, the odds are heavily stacked in favor of you making it safely back to the beach again.