Drone footage captures what is probably the world’s first sneak peak of a baby great white shark
- Discovery potentially reveals a birthing site for the threatened ocean predators; experts say it could improve conservation efforts
- Learn more about great white sharks, or Carcharodon carcharias, using our graphic below
Drone footage of a young shark emerging to the ocean surface could be the first sighting of a newborn great white, according to new research. Photo: AFP / Carlos Gauna / @TheMalibuArtistDrone footage of a young shark emerging to the surface of the ocean could be the first sighting of a newborn great white, according to new research, potentially revealing a birthing site for the threatened ocean predators.
While juvenile great whites have been previously spotted in the wild, experts said footage of a newly born pup, believed to be just hours old because of its rounded dorsal fin, could shed light on a long-standing mystery in shark science and improve conservation efforts.
“Where white sharks give birth is one of the holy grails of shark science,” said wildlife filmmaker and photographer Carlos Gauna, who captured the moment on camera. “No one has ever been able to pinpoint where they are born, nor has anyone seen a newborn baby shark alive.”
In early July 2023, Gauna – known online as The Malibu Artist – and UC Riverside biology doctoral student Phillip Sternes observed an apparently heavily pregnant great white shark off the Californian coast near Santa Barbara.
The shark appeared to dive deep into the water and not long after, a smaller shark emerged at the surface, and looked directly towards the camera hovering above.
Gauna said they initially thought the completely white little shark was an albino, because great white sharks – referred to only as white sharks by scientists – are actually grey on top and white only on their undersides.
But then they saw the shark appear to shed the white layer from its body as it clumsily swam around, he said.
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In an account of the sighting, published in the journal Environmental Biology of Fishes last month, Gauna and Sternes said they now believe that this white “skin” was in fact an embryonic layer of intrauterine milk, which is secreted in utero to nourish shark pups and is shed soon after birth. They also gave an alternative explanation – that the 1.5 metre long shark could have been suffering from a skin condition.
Southern California is known to be a nursing ground for young white sharks, while the central Californian coast has been tipped as a potential birthing spot and Gauna had seen pregnant and young white sharks in the area before this sighting.
“This may well be the first evidence we have of a pup in the wild, making this a definitive birthing location,” Sternes said in a press release, adding that more research would be needed to confirm the area more generally as a birthing ground.
If it is, Sternes said that would put pressure on lawmakers to protect the waters and strengthen conservation of great whites.
The sharks are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which says that, as top predators, great white sharks help maintain the intricate ocean food webs.
While shark attacks on humans are relatively rare, the great whites have a fearsome reputation that can lead to campaigns that kill not only endangered sharks, but also other non-target species.
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What is the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?
It is an international organisation set up to protect plants, animals and habitats. It was started in 1948. Its purpose is to influence, encourage and assist countries around the world to conserve nature. It also has to ensure that any use of natural resources is fair and sustainable without harming the earth.
One such way is the IUCN Red List. It is an indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. All animal and plant species are classified into one of nine Red List Categories: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient and Not Evaluated. Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered species are considered to be threatened with extinction.
Even though the great white shark’s impressive physical characteristics make it a top predator (see graphic), it is under serious threat by human activities. They are a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List.