By James ClaytonBBC North America technology reporter1 hour agoImage source, TheMalibuArtistThe knowledge gap of great white sharks may have narrowed, as a YouTuber captured potential footage of a newborn. Although experts have never witnessed the birth of a great white shark, Carlos Gauna, who is known as TheMalibuArtist on YouTube, may have captured a significant finding. Carlos gained popularity on YouTube for filming impressive shots of sharks with his drone, providing a unique view of these creatures without their awareness. His videos, which have received tens of millions of views, often show great whites swimming in close proximity to humans, occasionally raising concerns. While he has not witnessed aggressive behavior toward humans, the close encounters can be intense. Image source, TheMalibuArtistImage caption, Carlos often sees people and sharks closer together than you might thinkLast year, near Santa Barbara, California, Carlos had an extraordinary sighting while already observing large sharks in the area. He encountered a small, almost albino-looking, white shark at the beach, a sight he had never seen before. As Carlos brought down his drone for a closer look, the shark’s details became more apparent, revealing a white layer that seemed to be flaking off. Shark researcher Phil Sternes, from the University of California, Riverside, who was with Carlos at the time, was astonished by what they were witnessing. Image source, TheMalibuArtistImage caption, White flakes were left behind in the water behind the shark” ‘This little bitty white, almost albino-looking, white shark came up to the surface,’ he says.”We’re both falling out of our seats with excitement at that point. It was quite a moment.” The shape of the shark, with more rounded fins than usual, along with the white layer possibly being evidence of the shark’s recent birth, left Phil particularly excited. He suggested that the white layer could indicate that the shark had recently been born and still had a mucus-like substance on its body. With the help of James Worthington, from the University of San Diego, they estimated the shark’s size to be roughly 1.5m (4.9ft) long, consistent with the size of a newborn. Image source, TheMalibuArtistImage caption, Carlos captures drone footage of sharks for his YouTube channelDespite these findings, some marine biologists urge caution before concluding that it is definitely a newborn great white shark. Dr. Chris Lowe, from California State University’s shark lab, believes the finding is intriguing but suggests alternative explanations for the white layer. He advises that it could be a skin disease or another unidentified condition, emphasizing the need for more evidence before considering it a pupping location. In their report, Phil and Carlos note that the shark could have a skin condition, but they believe the unique characteristics in Carlos’s video, such as the aggressiveness of the flaking, the shape of the fins, and the size of the shark, support the theory of it being a newborn. Drones have revolutionized shark filming for both citizen scientists like Carlos and shark scientists, allowing for in-depth analysis of shark behavior. Dr. Lowe highlights that drones have provided insights into the frequent interactions between juvenile white sharks and people at California beaches. Similarly, Carlos’s observations align with this, as he frequently encounters great whites close to humans along California’s beaches. With a drone and patience, Carlos aims to be the first to film the birth of a great white shark.
