Contender, the largest white shark (male) ever observed, has been spotted: here are the images of the giant of the oceans

Contender, the largest male white shark ever caught, tagged and released in the Northwest Atlantic has been spotted off Canadian waters in Labrador. More than 4 meters long and with an estimated weight of around 750 kilograms, its grandeur had also surprised the researchers, who had installed on it on January 17th a SPOT tag, a satellite device capable of transmitting real-time data on its movements. This instrument will provide valuable information for about five years, opening a unique window into the migratory behavior of one of the oceans’ most mysterious creatures.

A journey tracked by satellite

Thanks to SPOT (Smart Position and Temperature Tag) technology, every time Contender emerges on the surface the satellite signal will indicate its position with great precision, just as it just happened. Researchers will thus be able to follow its seasonal routes live, discovering whether it prefers the cold waters of the North or whether, like many of its peers, it migrates south during the winter. The goal is to build an accurate map of the movements of great white sharks in the North Atlantic, an area where scientific knowledge is still fragmented.

Biological analyzes to understand the evolution of the species

In addition to marking, the team collected biological samples including urogenital material, which will allow them to study Contender’s physiology and genetics. This data will be critical to better understanding the reproduction and health of the region’s white shark population. The analyses, already underway, may also reveal information on microplastic contamination or the levels of heavy metals accumulated in large marine predators.

A new era for shark research

Constant monitoring of a specimen of this size will help scientists protect the species and prevent human impacts on its habitat. Every data we receive from Contender is an open window onto the ocean, a way to understand how sharks live and adapt to changes on the planet. With his silent journey among the currents, Contender will thus become an ambassador of marine conservation, a symbol of how science and technology can come together to protect ocean ecosystems.

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