A massive great white shark, known as the world’s largest, has been spotted near the coast of Canada following an impressive 845-mile journey. This 14-foot predator, weighing a hefty 1,653 pounds, was recently detected just 7 miles off the Quebec coast on Monday morning.
The shark, nicknamed “Contender,” is 30 years old and has been tracked by OCEARCH, a non-profit organization that monitors marine animals. According to OCEARCH, Contender has been covering an average of 11.5 miles per day.
Previously pinged on July 18 heading towards Martha’s Vineyard, a popular holiday destination, Contender has now moved into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is positioned north of Anticosti Island, also 7 miles away from the Quebec coast.
John Tyminski, a Senior Data Scientist at OCEARCH, confirmed that they received two recent pings from Contender, indicating his current location. The shark’s travel distance since July 18 is estimated to be around 845 miles, with an average travel rate of approximately 11.5 miles per day.
Experts note that great white sharks typically spend their summers foraging in the western North Atlantic, but Contender seems to prefer Atlantic Canada based on recent data. Tyminski mentioned that while they had initially tagged Contender off the southeastern United States in January, his migration towards Atlantic Canada was unexpected.
Although Contender’s future movements remain uncertain, scientists suggest he may start heading south by mid-October. They explain that white sharks like Contender are opportunistic hunters, adapting their movements to prey availability such as seals, marine mammals, or schooling fish like mackerel or tuna.
By gaining insights from tracking sharks like Contender, researchers are expanding their understanding of white shark behaviors, migration patterns, and preferred habitats. This ongoing research helps in mapping out the geographic range and habits of these apex predators.