First ever footage of a newborn great white shark pup (5 photos + 1 video)
A newborn white shark has been spotted in the wild for the first time, a discovery that could help scientists unravel the mystery of the endangered species. 
The calf was captured off the coast of California on July 9, 2023. Wildlife film director Carlos Gauna and UC Riverside biologist Philip Sternes noticed that the five-foot-long specimen was thin and had rounded fins, features found in embryos. Moreover, she was completely white. They published their observations on January 29 in the journal Environmental Biology of Fishes.
Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are the largest predatory fish in the world; adults can reach 6.4 m in length. Researchers believe the calf was only a few hours old.
A unique sight captured by a drone could reveal one of the biggest mysteries about white sharks.
"The birthplace of white sharks is the Holy Grail of shark science. So far, no one has been able to determine where they are born, and no one has seen a newborn baby alive," Gaun said in a statement. "Dead baby sharks have been found inside their dead mothers."
Upon closer examination, the researchers noticed that the individual was covered with a white film, which it shed while swimming. Typically, great white sharks have a contrasting body color - a gray back and a white belly. The cub was probably covered with an embryonic layer or “royal jelly”, which the female feeds the offspring in utero. However, Gauna and Sternes do not rule out the possibility that this could be an unknown skin disease.
The baby shark swam 305 m from the beach. Large, apparently pregnant females have already been spotted in this area. This is probably where the offspring appear.
"Further research is needed to confirm that these waters are indeed a breeding ground for great white sharks. If so, we want authorities to take action to protect this area, which will help conserve the species," Sternes said.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assigned this species "vulnerable" status.
