Why a shark's eyes need to be stared at

Les Stroud is the host of Discovery Channel's show, The Survivorman. The Canadian travels through remote locales, where he tries to survive, finding food, water and a way back home. But unlike other such shows, he is alone and tapes his own travails. SMD spoke with the survival expert to know what one must do to survive in hostile situations.

Les Stroud poses with his kill in the shores of Baffin Island

How did you become the Survivorman?
I have always loved adventure and I would frequently trek and canoe. Being an entertainer, I thought why not put these things together -- which is how Survivorman was born in my head. I spoke with the channel heads and we all realised that what would make this show really interesting is to do it without a camera crew. So here, I would do all the filming myself.

How did you go about deciding where to shoot?
We asked ourselves two things -- which are the places I've always wanted to go to and is there a 'survival' story to tell? We have made sure that there are enough elements to make the show diverse and exciting.

How did you prepare for the show?
I did absolutely nothing. The whole point of the show is to give people an idea of what it is like to be thrown into a similar situation. I, however, researched a bit about the places to find out what I'm up against.

What is the first thing one must do in a situation where survival is a struggle?
One must stay calm and conserve energy. Panic only takes a larger toll on one's body. Next, the person needs to assess the situation and be proactive. Ask the questions -- what do I have that can be useful? Where am I? Am I hurt? After that, one must make a decision, and not sit there, resigned to whatever happens. A quick checklist is to get water and shelter. Food is the last thing on that list.

What if you are in a dessert? You are lost and you've got only sand around you. What do you do?
Well, this is interesting, because sand dunes travel in a particular direction. So, accordingly, you can figure the wind currents and know where you are. You can also use the shadow stick method, which involves planting a stick in the ground and using the shadow as a compass.

What if you are face to face with a wild animal?
The smartest thing to do is to not run. Otherwise, it will make you seem like a prey and the animal will attack. Most animals are not predators. Don't make eye contact, unless you are dealing with a shark. With a shark, you should stare at its eyes, because they only attack from the back. With other wild animals, just back away slowly.

Doesn't eating all those crazy things you eat in the show take a toll on your stomach?
It certainly does. A lot of parasites and insects end up causing havoc to my body but to survive, you do what you have to. But when I'm home, I enjoy fine dining.

Beyond Survival With Les Stroud premiers on June 2, 9 pm, Discovery Channel