Ancient History

Scientists Raise Alarm As Great White Shark Mysteriously Washes Ashore

A Great White Shark Mysteriously Washed Ashore in Cape Cod, and Researchers Don't Know Why | Smithsonian

Koala, a 12.5-foot, 1,240-pound great white shark, was tracked by researchers in Cape Cod and tagged just a month before she was found dead on Nset Beach in Orleans, Cape Cod in October 2024. The incident was a major shock to scientists because the Koala was a healthy individual, in the prime of his life as an apex predator.

**The autopsy and clues**
When researchers from the New England Aquarium and Massachusetts Marine Fisheries arrived at the scene, they were immediately puzzled by the Koala’s body showing virtually no signs of injury. Some initial theories about the cause of death included:

**Shark fishing**: The method of finning sharks, often used to make soup, causes the sharks to lose their ability to swim and drown. However, the Koala still had its fins intact, eliminating this possibility.

– **Hooking or external injury**: Sharks are sometimes hooked, causing bleeding and death, especially in weaker species. But Koalas show no signs of being hooked, and their outer skin is completely intact.

– **Blood marks around the mouth**: Blood marks around the mouth can be a sign of internal bleeding, but the autopsy did not reveal any serious damage to vital organs.

During the autopsy, scientists discovered a small bite mark on the Koala, possibly from a smaller shark after the Koala had died. This was quite shallow and was not the direct cause of death.

**Theories of Cause of Death**
Without specific results from the autopsy, researchers continue to put forward various hypotheses:

1. **Shallow Water Blockage or Stranding**: While hunting in shallow or near-shore waters, great white sharks may become stranded on sandbars and have difficulty returning to deeper waters. In this state, the shark can suffocate quickly because there is no water circulating through the gills, leading to death. In addition, the shark’s cartilage structure cannot support its weight on land, causing great pressure on the internal organs.

2. **Infection or Disease**: Some sharks may die from chronic infections, although this is quite rare. Researchers have taken tissue samples from the Koala’s brain and organs to test for signs of infection or underlying disease.

**Additional findings and ecosystem concerns**
The situation became even more worrying when another porbeagle shark was found on a nearby beach, also showing no signs of serious injury. This raised concerns about an environmental threat or disease that could be affecting the shark population on Cape Cod.

Scientists are now awaiting lab results to determine the possible cause of the koala’s death. They hope to determine whether the deaths are isolated incidents or signs of a larger threat to shark survival and marine ecosystems.

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