Latest news with #TheContender
Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
‘World's biggest great white shark' dubbed ‘The Contender' is spotted by trackers heading towards popular tourist beach
THE biggest white shark ever tagged by scientists has been spotted heading towards a popular tourist beach. Named 'The Contender', the vast beast hasn't been heard from for several weeks. 4 Stock image of a Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, South Africa, Dyer Island 4 Contender was tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH Credit: SWNS 4 Contender, the 14ft great white shark Credit: SWNS 4 The massive shark has been skulking around the North Carolina coast for the past few months. Scientists keep tabs on its location through a tracker that "pings" whenever the shark's fin breaks the water's surface. But after several weeks off grid, the behemoth has surfaced again - this time near the popular North Carolina tourist area of Pamlico Sound. The latest ping sounded on June 7, just before 10pm. The scientists' tracking map appears to show The Contender making a move north since it last appeared. Weighing a whopping 1,600 pounds, the shark was first tagged on January 17 this year. The Contender started its journey about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It is the largest ever shark tagged the research group OCEARCH. The adult white shark measures a staggering 13 feet and nine inches. Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian, said: "This time of year white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada." The Contender's previous ping came on May 21, when it was much further south along North Carolina's coast. However, beachgoers need not panic, as the shark is still swimming a fair distance from the coastline. Dr Newton added: "We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing. "This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more." OCEARCH's website calls Contender "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It adds that his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. The website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analysed." It comes after a huge 20ft shark emerged from the water before stalking a tiny boat on Block Island. The boat was seen slowly drifting towards the edge of the lake, while two dark shapes appeared to rise from the water.
The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
‘World's biggest great white shark' dubbed ‘The Contender' is spotted by trackers heading towards popular tourist beach
THE biggest white shark ever tagged by scientists has been spotted heading towards a popular tourist beach. Named 'The Contender', the vast beast hasn't been heard from for several weeks. 4 Stock image of a Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, South Africa, Dyer Island 4 Contender was tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH Credit: SWNS 4 Contender, the 14ft great white shark Credit: SWNS 4 The massive shark has been skulking around the North Carolina coast for the past few months. Scientists But after several weeks off grid, The latest ping sounded on June 7, just before 10pm. read more in world news The scientists' tracking map appears to show The Contender making a move north since it last appeared. Weighing a whopping 1,600 pounds, the shark was first tagged on January 17 this year. The Contender started its journey about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It is the largest ever shark tagged the research group OCEARCH. Most read in The US Sun The adult white shark measures a staggering 13 feet and nine inches. Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian, said: "This time of year white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada." The Contender's previous ping came on May 21, when it was much further south along North Carolina's coast. However, beachgoers need not panic, as the shark is still swimming a fair distance from the coastline. Dr Newton added: "We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing. "This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more." OCEARCH's website calls Contender "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It adds that his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. The website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analysed." It comes after a huge 20ft shark The boat was seen slowly drifting towards the edge of the lake, while two dark shapes appeared to rise from the water.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Science
- The Sun
‘World's biggest great white shark' dubbed ‘The Contender' is spotted by trackers heading towards popular tourist beach
THE biggest white shark ever tagged by scientists has been spotted heading towards a popular tourist beach. Named 'The Contender', the vast beast hasn't been heard from for several weeks. 4 4 4 The massive shark has been skulking around the North Carolina coast for the past few months. Scientists keep tabs on its location through a tracker that "pings" whenever the shark's fin breaks the water's surface. But after several weeks off grid, the behemoth has surfaced again - this time near the popular North Carolina tourist area of Pamlico Sound. The latest ping sounded on June 7, just before 10pm. The scientists' tracking map appears to show The Contender making a move north since it last appeared. Weighing a whopping 1,600 pounds, the shark was first tagged on January 17 this year. The Contender started its journey about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It is the largest ever shark tagged the research group OCEARCH. The adult white shark measures a staggering 13 feet and nine inches. Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian, said: "This time of year white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada." The Contender's previous ping came on May 21, when it was much further south along North Carolina's coast. However, beachgoers need not panic, as the shark is still swimming a fair distance from the coastline. Dr Newton added: "We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing. "This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more." OCEARCH's website calls Contender "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It adds that his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. The website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analysed."
Scottish Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Watch nailbiting moment enormous 20ft shark stalks human prey in terrifying Jaws-like scene…before boat makes hasty exit
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the nerve-racking moment a huge 20ft shark emerges from the water before stalking a tiny boat - bringing to mind classic thriller Jaws. Tense footage showed the humongous beast lurking behind the small vessel in a pond on Block Island as it came dangerously close to two passengers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 This is the moment a shark came dangerously close to a boat Credit: Instagram/Atlantic Shark Institute 3 Two passengers sped away from the 20ft beast Credit: Instagram/Atlantic Shark Institute 3 The video was captured in Rhode Island by local Jen Seebeck who was eating at the Dead Eye Dicks restaurant by Great Salt Pond when she spotted the enormous dorsal, The Atlantic Shark Institute reported. The boat was seen slowly drifting towards the edge of the lake, while two dark shapes appeared to rise from the water. The two fins could easily have been mistaken for two separate sharks, due to the distance between the pair. But shockingly, they were actually part of the same beast - representing the top fin and tail of the 20ft predator. The boat carrying two passengers then started to speed away, possibly following the crew's sudden realisation. The nailbiting scene has sparked comparisons to the classic film Jaws - which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One person even referenced Steven Spielberg's shark thriller in the video, as they shouted: 'There's a shark in the pond!' It is currently unclear what exact species the nimble shark captured in the footage is. The Atlantic Shark Institute said: "Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking. 'Hopefully this shark will find its way out of Great Salt Pond soon and continue on its way!' Huge 12 meter basking shark spotted off the beaches of Marbella Block Island has recently been named one of the 10 best summer destinations in the United States, according to USA Today. It comes after another enormous shark was spotted dangerously near a beach in a popular Spanish tourist spot. A viral video showed the colossal beast skulking around the waters just off the coast of Marbella. And earlier this month, the biggest shark ever tagged by researchers was spotted prowling up the US east coast. Known as "The Contender", the massive white shark was seen skulking around the North Carolina coast. The behemoth was previously seen following the Gulf Stream south near Florida. Weighing 1,600 pounds, the beast was first tagged on January 17 this year about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It was the largest ever shark tagged by research group OCEARCH in the area.
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
‘Biggest shark EVER tagged by researchers' – 14ft & 1,600lb great white dubbed ‘The Contender' – spotted prowling off US
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE biggest shark ever tagged by researchers has been spotted prowling up the US east coast. Known as 'The Contender', the massive white shark is currently skulking around the North Carolina coast. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Stock image of a Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, South Africa, Dyer Island Credit: Getty 3 Scientists track its progress through a tag that "pings" every time the shark's fin breaks the water's surface Credit: Getty 3 The behemoth was previously seen following the Gulf Stream south near Florida. Weighing 1,600 pounds, the beast was first tagged on January 17 this year about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It was the largest ever shark tagged by research group OCEARCH in the area. Contender, an adult white shark, measures 13 feet and nine inches. From its starting point, Contender stuck to familiar surrounding for the first few weeks of its journey, clinging to the area around the Florida coast. Scientists track its progress through a tag that "pings" every time the shark's fin breaks the water's surface. OCEARCH said the fin needs to be above water for around 90 seconds for the location to be fully accurate. Its website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns." Despite Contender's voyage trending south from January through to March, the latest pings have show the beast much further north. The shark didn't emerge for a ping between March 12 and April 8, during which time it had made its way nearer to coastal North Carolina. Contender has travelled more than 1,400 miles over the past 109 days. Since emerging near North Carolina, the shark has been prowling up and down the state's coastal waters. But beachgoers need not panic, as Contender has kept well clear of the shore so far. The most recent ping on May 5 had the shark heading southwards in the vague direction of Onslow Bay. OCEARCH's website describes Contender as "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It also says his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. Sharks will tend to head north and further out to sea during the spring and summer months, according to biologists. A good supply of seals off the northeast US and Canada, makes it a popular destination for sharks.
