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Rare Great White Shark Sighting Near Bondi Beach Raises Questions

Rare Great White Shark Sighting Near Bondi Beach
Source: DroneSharkApp/Supplied, via Yahoo!News

An incredibly rare sighting of a great white shark near Sydney’s Bondi Beach has sparked widespread curiosity and speculation. Adding to the intrigue, a local seal named Alex made an unusual appearance on the beach on the same day. Could these events be connected?

Discovery of the Great White Shark

Rare Great White Shark Sighting Near Bondi Beach
The great white shark was released by fisheries contractors off Bondi Beach. Source: DroneSharkApp

A 1.8-metre great white shark was discovered hooked just 500 meters from Bondi Beach, a popular tourist destination. This rare occurrence was captured on drone footage, which quickly went viral.

Resident Seal Alex’s Behavior

Rare Great White Shark Sighting Near Bondi Beach
Bondi’s resident seal Alex was spotted on the boardwalk on Monday. Source: Yahoo!News

On the same day as the shark sighting, Bondi’s resident seal, Alex, was seen taking up temporary residence on the sand. This unusual behavior has led locals to speculate a possible connection between the two events.

Linking the Two Events

sea lion
Image via Pixabay

Many locals theorize that Alex may have fled the water to avoid the shark. Marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck mentioned that it is “definitely conceivable” that the seal’s behavior was influenced by the presence of the predator.

Awareness of the Shark’s Presence

Great White Shark. Image via Canva Pro

The presence of the shark only came to light after drone footage was posted on social media. This footage alerted Bondi Beach locals and drew significant attention online.

Shark Activity at Bondi Beach

gray seal in water
A single wild gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) looking surprised. Image
via depositphots

While great white sharks are known to inhabit deeper waters, sightings close to Bondi Beach are rare. Local man Jason Iggleton, who surveys the waters regularly, noted this was his first sighting since 2019.

How the Shark Was Hooked

Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, with open mouth. False Bay, South Africa, Atlantic Ocean. Image via depositphotos.

The shark was caught on a drum line, a method used to bait sharks close to shore. The footage shows the shark being released from the drum line by fisheries contractors.

Debate Over Drum Lines

Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) breaching in an attack on seal , South Africa. Image via Depositphotos

There is ongoing debate about whether drum lines keep beaches safe or attract sharks closer to shore. The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) argues there is no evidence supporting the claim that drum lines lure sharks closer to beaches.

Previous Shark Sightings at Bondi

Great White Shark Alabama
Silhouette of jumping Great White Shark. Red sky of sunrise. Great White Shark breaching in attack. Scientific name: Carcharodon carcharias. South Africa.
Image via Depositphotos

Since 2019, 14 great white sharks have been caught between Cronulla and Palm Beach. DPI has confirmed multiple detections of white sharks along this coastline.

Juvenile Shark Migration Patterns

Great White Shark
Great White Shark with mouth open. Image via Depositphotos

Research indicates that juvenile great white sharks migrate north in late autumn and return south in late spring. This pattern is monitored using tagged shark listening stations.

Great White Shark Population

Great white shark smiling
Great white shark smiling. By Hermanus Backpackers – Great White Shark Cage Diving, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7889952

The population of great white sharks along Australia’s east coast is estimated to be around 750 adults. Despite their presence, attacks on humans remain rare.

Human-Shark Interactions

Great White shark ready to attack
Great White shark while coming to you on deep blue ocean background. Image via Depositphotos

In many regions, including California and parts of NSW, surfers and swimmers coexist with great white sharks without incidents. Smaller sharks often avoid human contact, while larger sharks in deeper waters are more concerning.

Conservation Efforts and Research

Great White Shark. Image via Depositphotos

Conservation efforts and research continue to provide insights into great white shark behavior and population dynamics. Tagging programs and listening stations play a crucial role in these studies.

Public Reaction

Seal sticking its head out of the water. Image by Keith Luke on Unsplash.

The viral video of the shark and the seal has sparked both fascination and concern among the public. Discussions around beach safety and shark behavior are ongoing.

Impact on Local Wildlife

Seal lying on the rock close to water. Image by mana5280 on Unsplash.

The presence of a great white shark near Bondi Beach highlights the dynamic and interconnected nature of marine ecosystems. The behavior of local wildlife, such as Alex the seal, reflects these interactions.

Conclusion

Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias. Image via Depositphotos

The rare sighting of a great white shark near Bondi Beach, coupled with the unusual behavior of the resident seal, has captivated the public’s attention. While the exact connection between these events remains speculative, they underscore the complex and fascinating world of marine life.