By Jacob ZeidbergMr. Spedding
5th grade Social Studies
Who is Jeremy Wade? Fisherman Writer TV Presenter Explorer
What is an explorer? Classic Explorers
Go to new lands to conquer them for their nations
God, Glory, and Gold Report knowledge and
bring treasure to sponsors (Spanish Crown).
Jeremy Wade Goes to remote lands to
research stories about river monsters.
Scientific Knowledge, Glory, Gold
Reports new knowledge to public, which brings treasure to sponsors (Bass pro shop)
Jeremy’s Background Born in Suffolk, England 1956 Grew up in small village
where children were given fishing poles to stay out of trouble
A friend’s father, a fly fisherman, taught him to love fishing.
Degree in Zoology, then became a teacher
1st exploration: 1982 to India
Jeremy Wade: the explorer Learned to be a writer Wrote on poaching, fair
trade, travel, and natural history
Translator, Portuguese Book “Somewhere down
the crazy river” 1992 TV presenter in 2002
Jungle hooks River Monsters
Jeremy Wade: The Exploring What: Large predatory
freshwater fish, myths Where: All 7 continents When: since 1982 Why: help people
understand nature better How: 1. Researches, 2.
Interviews Locals, 3. Catches fish, 4. Shares knowledge with world through TV.
Myths and Legends Searches for mythical
creatures that have attacked people
Uses knowledge of fish Hunts for fish in a
scientific way
Myths and Legends Scientific method
1. Interviews local people
2. Reads literature about local species
3. Reads news stories about attacks
4. Makes guesses, tests hypotheses on fish that could have made the attacks.
Remote Regions
Rivers Amazon, SA Nile & Congo, Africa Yangtze, Asia Murray-Darling, Au Mississippi, US Volga, Europe Onyx, Antarctica
Mbenga
Payara You might think that the
Piranha is the top predator. But the Payara has a strict diet of Piranhas!
Uses two large bottom fangs to pop the swim bladder and cause its prey to sink.
Explorers overcome adversityMishaps and Accidents Survived plane crash Survived sinking boat Arrested as a suspected
spy in Laos Rammed in chest by 7 foot
Arapaima Caught Malaria Ended up on wrong end of
a gun
Largest Freshwater Fish Freshwater
stingray from Thailand
16 feet long, 7 foot wing span
1300 pounds
Tools of the trade Pole Bait, lures Weights, floats Wire cutter, knife Plyers Line, hooks Reel
Creative Cultures Papua New Gunea Ex-cannibals with a fish
problem Fish attacking swimmers Used pork as bait, “tastes
like people”
Going Native with Vahole Tribe Considered best
fishermen in world Like ancient explorers
Jeremy learns from locals 1st outsider into tribe Fishing methods: Spider webs Bow and Arrow Hand line Rock and Kite Chain of vines
Australia Worked with Aborigines Capture & tag the sawfish Used ancient fishing
methods to catch bait-fish
Pacu Nut eating monster Has teeth like a human Attacked swimmers
who were harvesting fallen nuts in water
Angry Americans Sturgeon Catfish Pike Gar Grouper
Not just fish Japanese giant
salamander Up to 5 feet long, weigh
over 100 pounds
How is Jeremy similar to famous explorers?1. Magellan:
circumnavigated the world, proved not flat
2. Columbus: discovered the Bahamas
3. Pizzarro: conquered Incas to rule Peru for Spain
1. Jeremy: proved a monster that attacked boats was just a sturgeon that had been run over
2. Jeremy: provided stingray venom to scientists for anti-venom discovery
3. Jeremy: first person to meet up with Vahole and use their fishing techniques
Jeremy Wade: Impact Found true identity of
mythical creatures, helping to change our view of the world
He’s made a fisherman out of me
He has inspired me to become a scientist and a conservationist.
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