Meet Success, the shark working on his hunting skills.
Ocearch’s tracking technology allows researchers to monitor sharks movements throughout the world’s oceans, providing valuable insight into their behavior and their range.
Each shark is tagged with a tracking device that is inserted through their dorsal fin, and whenever they break the surface of the water, a signal is transmitted to a satellite. The satellite then sends back an estimated location of the shark.
Each of these ‘pings’ give researchers an accurate, real time location of a particular shark, allowing them to collect data about each individual.
During the tagging process, tests are done on the shark which determines their species, age, sex, weight, length and stage of life. From the data collected a profile is then setup for the shark on Ocearch’s official tracking website.
This process allows researchers to glean the extent of the shark’s territory, the distance they have covered since their tagging and monitor their behavior.
This information provided educates readers, not only about the current shark population and their behaviour, but also about OCEARCH’s conservation initiative.
Expectedly, each shark displays their own particular habits, which coastlines they prefer and the depth at which the like to swim. It’s interesting to follow a particular individual and see what they get up to, how much distance they cover in comparison to other sharks and whether they prefer shallow or deep waters.
Photo credit: www.ocearch.org.
Profile: Success
Species: Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Gender: Male
Weight: 340 kg
Length: 3.2 metres
Stage of Life: Immature
Total distance covered: 5610.59 miles
Tag Location: Mossel Bay
The aptly named Success is yet to live up to his name. Still a relative juvenile, Success was named after his father, who pioneered new hunting techniques off the coast of Cape Town during the 20th century, influencing many great whites down the years.
His name is quite ironic, though, as he is yet to enjoy the accolades his father has racked up and as such has lived in his Dad’s shadow for most of his young life.
His search for recognition has seen him traverse the waters along the coast of South Africa as he looks to improve his skill set, learning from the older sharks in the more hospitable waters of the Indian Ocean.
He has come some way since making the move in late 2013 and is particularly fond of the waters off the coast of Mozambique and Madagascar where the fish are a lot more sluggish, giving him a chance to work on his ever-improving hunting skills.
He hopes to one day return to the Cape to show off his new techniques to his friends, perhaps you could catch him on one of Shark Bookings’ great white shark tours if you’re in the area. Book your shark cage diving experience today.
Credit: All data found on www.ocearch.org.
