The shark with the name Contender (freely translated ‘challenger’) was ‘tagged’ off the coast of Florida on January 17, 2025 and has since been closely followed. The beast is almost 4.5 meters long and weighs around 750 kilos. The animal is of the male gender and would be about thirty years old.
After the marine animal had not appeared on the radar for almost a month – the tracker only broadcasts a signal when the gush of the shark comes just above the water surface – the animal appeared again last week: a lot more north at Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. It is an area that is known for the natural beauty and the many water sports options.
Scientists think that the animal has swam north in recent weeks to take advantage of the food stocks that are richly present there.
Data from Contender and other marked sharks provide valuable information for nature conservation and help with the protection of important habitats. The route that Contender has traveled in recent months is here to see.