LeeBeth is a shark with the characteristics of a long-haul trucker, possessing gills and large teeth.

Scientists are intrigued by the movements of LeeBeth, a 14-foot (4.3-meter) white shark, despite swimmers at the beach not feeling the same excitement. They hope that her impressive journey will offer valuable insights to assist the species, and are eager to track her future whereabouts.

Great white sharks, also known as white sharks, rose to fame after the popular 1970s film “Jaws.” These creatures traverse the seas in pursuit of their preferred prey, marine mammals, and were previously hunted without regard. Certain experts believe that increased numbers of seals in certain areas of the Atlantic Ocean have been beneficial for these sharks, which were classified as a protected species in 1997.

LeeBeth has covered over 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) since her tracking device was placed near South Carolina in December. According to scientists who are closely monitoring her movements, on Monday, she had already reached the Gulf of Mexico. In late February, LeeBeth broke records by venturing even further into the Gulf than any other white shark that has been tracked before. The latest signal detected her presence near Matamoros, Mexico, which is just across the U.S. border from South Padre Island, Texas.

Megan Winton, a senior scientist from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in Chatham, Massachusetts, stated that the sighting of a shark so far west is a significant indicator of the Gulf of Mexico’s importance to white sharks. She emphasized the need for international collaboration to safeguard these sharks, as their populations across the globe are in the process of recovering from years of excessive fishing.

According to Winton, the exact number of white sharks that venture to the west is unclear, but it strongly suggests that they do. Only a few sharks have been monitored beyond the Mississippi River.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy works with the government of Massachusetts to label white sharks, with over 300 already labeled. Winton states that numerous others have been labeled by various organizations across the globe.

The conservation organization collaborated with Outcast Sport Fishing, a fishing charter based in Hilton Head, South Carolina, to label LeeBeth.

According to Chip Michalove, the owner of Outcast, LeeBeth was a beneficial shark to tag because she provided more signals from the tracking device compared to others. The tracker sends a signal whenever the shark comes to the water’s surface.

Michalove exclaimed, “LeeBeth not only holds the title of one of our largest catches, but also boasts the best pinging abilities. She was truly a home run for us.”

On March 7, the most recent instance of LeeBeth’s check-in, tracking data indicated that the great white was around 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the coast of Galveston, Texas.

Source: wral.com