An unexplained spike in the number of dead Great White Sharks washing up on North American shores has left scientists searching for answers. Historically, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperator has monitored the population of these apex predators for over three decades without reporting any shark carcasses on the coast. However, since 2023, at least five dead Great Whites have been found along Canada’s eastern coastline. The United States has also seen four similar occurrences, bringing the total to nine confirmed fatalities.
What makes these deaths particularly puzzling is that the sharks show no visible signs of injury or trauma, ruling out common causes such as attacks by orcas, which have been documented in South Africa and Australia, or collisions with boats. Many of the sharks have been found with full stomachs, further eliminating the possibility of starvation.
Veterinary pathologists are raising concerns about an unusual condition affecting the sharks’ brains. “Three of the five sharks examined show signs of a potential infectious disease targeting their brain tissue,” explained Megan Jones, a Canadian veterinary pathologist.
Experts suspect the sharks may be suffering from meningoencephalitis, a rare condition that causes brain swelling. The inflammation appears to exert pressure on the brain, which could ultimately lead to death. However, the cause of this ailment remains unknown.
“I strongly believe there’s something significant happening here,” said Alisa Newton, chief veterinarian at the shark research organization OCEARCH.
With ocean temperatures rising and currents shifting, scientists stress that identifying the cause of these deaths could shed light on broader environmental changes and their impact on marine life, including even the ocean’s most formidable predator.
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