Unlocking Secrets of the Great White Shark: Analysis of ‘Mega Momma’ Killed on Drumline
An enormous great white shark recently killed on a drumline in Queensland, Australia, will be used to help researchers discover more about the species. The gigantic female was only slightly smaller than the largest great white ever caught. The 18.4-foot-long (5.6 meters) female white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) was found dead by the Queensland Shark Control Program at Tannum Sands, off the Queensland coast, on Aug. 10. She was pregnant with four pups when she died.
Drumline Discovery
The Queensland Shark Control Program uses drumlines to reduce the risk of shark bites. If a bull, tiger or great white shark is caught in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it is tagged, relocated and released. Those caught outside the Marine Park are euthanized. In this case, the pregnant great white shark was not reached in time, leading to her unfortunate demise.
Bob Hueter, a shark expert, expressed his disappointment at losing such a significant reproductive animal. The slow reproduction rate of white sharks, with females carrying between two and 17 pups every two or three years, makes the loss of a breeding female like ‘Mega Momma’ even more impactful on the local population.
Conservation Concerns
Great white sharks are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, facing threats from overfishing and bycatch. With only around 750 breeding adults left in the eastern Australasian population, the loss of a breeding female can have a severe impact on genetic diversity and rebuilding capacity.
Leonardo Guida, shark conservation lead at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, expressed a mix of awe and sadness upon hearing the news of ‘Mega Momma’s’ demise. The loss, while significant, presents an opportunity for researchers to learn more about the species through the analysis of the shark’s body.
Unveiling Mysteries of the Ocean
The samples taken from the deceased great white shark will be used for research purposes, collaborating with researchers from New South Wales and South Australia on various projects. The analysis of ‘Mega Momma’ could provide valuable insights into the biology, genetics, and populations of white sharks.
Excitement brews among scientists like Hueter, who see this rare opportunity as a chance to fill critical gaps in knowledge about the species. The examination of this ‘mega momma’ could reveal information about feeding habits, contaminants in waters, gestation periods, and reproductive patterns that were previously unknown.
As researchers delve into the depths of the great white shark’s biology, ‘Mega Momma’ continues to make waves even in death, leaving a legacy of discovery and understanding in her wake. The secrets she holds may unlock a greater understanding of these majestic creatures and pave the way for their conservation and protection in the future.
