Elissa Sursara

Elissa Sursara

Sursara in February 2013
Born Elissa Sursara
1988 (age 26–27)
Avalon Beach, Sydney
Nationality Australian
Alma mater Australian National University (ANU)
Occupation Conservationist, filmmaker, correspondent
Years active 2005 – present
Known for Conservation, journalism and TV presenting
Website
www.elissasursara.org

Elissa Sursara (born February 14 1988) is an Australian wildlife expert and journalist.[1][2] She is a blogger on National Geographic NewsWatch.[3] She is the ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund climate change campaign Earth Hour, Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital and Wildlife Warriors, and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society[1] with which she serves as an Antarctic campaigns crew member. In October 2012, she joined the cast of Animal Planet’s documentary series Whale Wars.

Controversies

Social identity theft

Beginning in 2005, Sursara was a victim of social identity cloning. In a 2012 article for News.com.au on identity theft, Sursara said there were more than 500 fake accounts pretending to be her.[1]

Shark bite

On September 19, 2014 Sursara claimed she was attacked by a shark in Australian waters off the north Queensland coast.[4] Images showed a large bite in her torso.[5] However by September 25th, a number of shark activists and marine biologists accused Elissa Sursara of making the attack up, expressing doubt over the image of the bite marks. They pointed to evidence of Photoshopping and other clues that didn't make sense about the attack.[6] Sursara rebutted the fake attack claims.[7]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Language Notes
2000 Hector Reno English
2002 Marion Bridge Sam
The Wet Season Taylor
2003 Touch & Go Krissa
Going For Broke Annabelle
2004 Days Like These Alicia
2005 Johnny Benson's Adventures Camilla
2006 Live Free or Die Christy
2007 The Screening Ava
Equal Opportunity Bena Brazilian
Pain Within Brittany

Television

Year Title Role Language Notes
1994–96 Para Crancias Co-Host Portuguese 22 episodes
Touched by an Angel Natalie English "The Heart of the Matter"
1996 American Gothic Alex English "Requiem"
2001 Boston Public Rea English "Chapter Seventeen"
2002 Taken Lena English "Dropping the Dishes"
2007 Brothers & Sisters Jessica English "Domestic Issues"
2009 Bondi Vet Herself English "Episode #1.14"
2011 Whale Wars Herself English 8 episodes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Shepherd, Tory (31 October 2012). "My Bieber nightmare: Fans sent me death threats". News.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Elissa Sursara Interview". girl.com.au. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  3. ↑ Geographic, National (12 May 2014). "National Geographic Author Page". National Geographic. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Woman punched shark to escape". nzherald.co.nz. September 22, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ Chloe Ross (September 21, 2014). "Environment crusader 'privileged' to be attacked by shark". 9news.com.au. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  6. ↑ Lillian Radulova (September 25, 2014). "Scientists accuse Australian shark victim Elissa Sursara of making attack up". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Elissa Sursara Rebuts ‘Fake Shark Attack’ Photo: Some Shark Experts Still Say Something Is Fishy About Unreported Attack". inquisitr.com. September 23, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.

External links