They have never been known to attack humans and are not considered a threat to people in the water. Because their large size and powerful tails could potentially cause serious injury, however, thresher sharks should be avoided. Thresher sharks give birth to two to four live, fully formed pups per litter. Fetal thresher sharks may indulge in ovophagy, a form of cannibalism in the womb in which the developing sharks attack and eat the developing eggs and smaller embryos in the womb. Ovophagy is found in many other sharks belonging to the mackerel shark order.
Thresher sharks are active, strong swimmers that are favorites among sport fishermen.
Their liver is processed for oil and vitamins. Their skin is made into leather, and their fins are sold for making shark-fin soup. P.J. The Life of Sharks, 5th ed. Cafiero, Gaetano, and Jahoda, Maddalena. Campagno, L.J.V. Sharks of the World.