Controversy Surrounds First Ever Sighting of a Newborn Great White Shark
This week, the internet was abuzz with excitement as drone footage captured the first ever sighting of a newborn great white shark. The adorable pup, with its milky white skin and gummy smile, quickly became an internet sensation. The images were published in the Environmental Biology of Fishes journal, sparking headlines such as “First ever sighting of a newborn great white reported” and “‘Holy grail’ of shark science: Newborn great white shark caught on video for first time ever.” However, scientists are not entirely convinced that this is indeed a newborn shark.
The Case For Baby
On July 9, 2023, wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and graduate student Phillip Sternes were on a shark-spotting mission off California’s central coast. Gauna spotted the pup on his drone camera, swimming just 1,000 feet from the beach. The duo enlarged the images and noticed that the shark appeared to be shedding a white substance from its skin. This led them to believe that it could be a newborn shark.
White sharks, or great whites as they are commonly known, have a unique reproductive process. Pregnant white sharks produce a cream-colored fluid called “uterine milk” for their embryos to consume. However, scientists are unsure if this milk is produced throughout the entire pregnancy. White shark pups gestate for about a year and are born around four feet long, resembling rounded-fin embryos. The researchers estimated that the baby they filmed was about five feet long, which falls within the range for newborn sharks. They suggested that the white substance shedding from the pup’s skin could be uterine milk that had adhered to its skin while in the womb. Gauna also mentioned observing “large, likely pregnant great whites” in the area before spotting the pup. This led them to believe that the area could be a birthing ground for white sharks.
The Case For Slightly Older Baby
While everyone agrees that the shark is a baby, there is debate about its exact age. Without witnessing a tiny white shark emerging from a larger one, researchers cannot determine the pup’s age or the nature of the whitish material. Gauna and Sternes proposed another explanation, suggesting that the shark may have a unique unknown skin disorder. While sharks and rays have been observed with dermatitis and bacterial infections, none have exhibited symptoms similar to those seen in the footage. However, the lack of evidence and the fact that white sharks typically give birth to multiple pups at once raise doubts about this being a true newborn.
If The Baby Is Agefishing, So What?
Despite their popularity in popular culture, many aspects of white sharks’ lives remain a mystery to scientists. One such mystery is where they give birth. Learning more about their birthing grounds is crucial for their protection, as white sharks are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While shark populations around the world face extinction due to overfishing, white shark populations in U.S. waters appear to be increasing. The drone footage has provided a glimpse into the birthing process of these iconic creatures, but there is still much to uncover.
In conclusion, the sighting of a newborn great white shark has sparked controversy among scientists. While some believe it to be a true newborn, others argue that it may be slightly older or suffering from a skin disorder. Regardless of its age, this adorable pup has captured the hearts of many and shed light on the mysterious world of white shark birthing grounds. As we continue to study and protect these magnificent creatures, let us marvel at the beauty and resilience of nature’s creations.