As spring break season approaches, an enormous great white shark has been detected off the coast of Florida. Maple, a massive 11-foot, 7-inch great white, weighing in at 1,264 pounds, pinged southeast of St. George Island in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday morning, according to OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker.
Maple has spent much of her winter in the Gulf of Mexico over the past two seasons, according to OCEARCH. The shark is named after the maple leaf, one of Canada’s national emblems, and has a distinctive wound on the left side of her body. While shark sightings are not uncommon in Florida waters, Maple’s sheer size has captured the attention of beachgoers and marine enthusiasts alike.
The wound on Maple’s body, which has become a distinctive feature of the massive great white, is believed to have resulted from an encounter with a larger white shark, according to OCEARCH’s research team.
“It is not uncommon for sharks to show their dominance over a smaller animal of their species by delivering a significant but non-fatal bite.”
“It is not uncommon for sharks to show their dominance over a smaller animal of their species by delivering a significant but non-fatal bite,” the organization explained on its website. OCEARCH is a non-profit organization dedicated to conducting research on marine life and collecting data previously inaccessible to scientists.
Through its innovative collaborations with individuals and organizations in the US and abroad, the organization seeks to accelerate the ocean’s return to balance and abundance. Maple’s tracking data provides valuable insights into the movement and behavior of great white sharks, contributing to a greater understanding of these majestic creatures.
Massive 11-foot, 1,200-pound great white shark detected off Florida coast just ahead of Spring break😳 pic.twitter.com/PKzVgSrxQY
— Hoodlum (@onhoodlum) March 9, 2023
For those interested in tracking great white sharks, including the massive Maple, OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker provides real-time updates on the location and movement of these creatures. By visiting the website, marine enthusiasts can stay up to date on the latest tracking data and gain valuable insights into the behavior and migration patterns of great white sharks. Whether you’re a researcher, ocean enthusiast, or simply curious about these majestic creatures, the Global Shark Tracker is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the world of marine life.
