A 700-pound great white shark named Bella was spotted making a rare migration toward Virginia Beach, according to SWNS via the New York Post.
The massive shark was tagged by OCEARCH in Nova Scotia in July and has reportedly swam south for the holiday season, having been detected off the Eastern shore of Virginia. Researchers said Bella’s movements highlight how great white sharks migrate during the late fall and winter months and noted that her presence poses minimal risk near beaches.
“Most of them are already south of Cape Hatteras, but Bella is one of the later sharks moving down the coast,” said OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer. “This is her first trip south that we’re actually able to track her and see how and where she’s moving.”
Bella’s long-term tracking could potentially help scientists pinpoint white shark mating areas as she matures, which would offer more details about the species’ life cycle. OCEARCH has also been tracking ‘Contender,’ the largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic.
Contender reportedly resurfaced off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, last month, according to OCEARCH via FOX Weather.
“Each ping adds another clue to the puzzle of white shark migration in the Western North Atlantic—and our team is tracking every move,” OCEARCH said.
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