A gigantic great white shark was spotted in waters south of Miami, Fla.
Weighing in at a total of 2,067 pounds at a length of 15.5 inches, the female apex predator has been traveling for over three months from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
Named “Unama’ki” (or “land of the fog” in the language of the Mi’kmaq tribe), CNN reports how nonprofit research organization, Ocearch, has been tracking the great white’s whereabouts for quite some time. They announced via Facebook page her location in Miami at the beginning of the month.
Ocearch first tagged Unama’ki on Sept. 20, 2019 and has kept an eye on her migratory patterns ever since. “As a big, mature female,” the organization explains. “Unama’ki has the potential to lead us to the site where she gives birth and exposes a new white shark nursery.”
Tracking Unama’ki’s movements as well as those of other sharks like her is part of Ocearch’s greater efforts to study oceanic species for conversation purposes. Since 2007, the nonprofit has tagged over 416 over the course of 39 expeditions. And they did it all on “one big boat.”
For those who are having a rough time fathoming how a shark can possibly get to be as big as Unama’ki, try mulling this over—the great white even isn’t the biggest shark the Ocearch team has ever tagged.
That prize goes to the “Queen of the Ocean,” Nukumi, who stretches 17 feet long and weighs a total of 3,541 pounds. But those in Miami have nothing to worry about—Nukumi’s only been spotted off the coast of Nova Scotia.
