Brenna Cooper
A great white shark believed to be the world's 'biggest ever' male has resurfaced – and scientists are hoping it could solve one of marine life's biggest mysteries.
Every few months, a 14ft shark by the name of Contender surfaces along the eastern coast of North America, prompting intrigue amongst researchers and the scientific community alike – predominantly due to the shark being an absolute unit.
A fully grown male great white usually reaches anywhere between 11 and 13 feet in length, which means Contender is noticeably bigger than other male sharks. Although it should be noted that female great whites can grow even bigger, often measuring between 15 and 16 feet.
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Contender recently surfaced near Canada's Labrador Peninsula, which is certainly a long way from previous pings in Massachusetts, Florida and Georgia.
So what does Contender's move north tell us?
According to the update from marine research organisation OCEARCH, the latest ping means Contender is 'one of the furthest northern pinging sharks that we've had'.
"Only a couple have made it that far north," Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH, explained.
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"An animal like that, spending the summer and fall up north - what are they doing? Well, a lot of what they're doing is preparing for the winter."
Estimated to be around 30 years old. Contender weighs approximately 1,653lbs. The shark is believed to have made the trip north in order to build up his fat stores by eating seals, ahead of a trip back south for the winter.
The shark's next movements could also solve one of the biggest questions regarding the aquatic predator – revealing the shark's preferred mating spot.
Scientists are currently tracking the shark in hopes of unveiling the world's first great white mating site.
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The sharks are currently believed to mate off the coast of the Southeast United States, specifically around the Carolinas; however, a particular site has never been confirmed.
And researchers at OCEARCH are currently hoping Contender could be the key they need in unravelling the mystery.
"There's never been a white shark mating site identified anywhere in the world in any one of the nine populations," Fischer continued. "It would be a first."
"It'll be really interesting to watch Contender this year," he added, explaining that next spring will be crucial for identifying breeding grounds.
"I want to know where Contender will be in March of 2026, in April of 2026. I think that could be a massive clue for identifying where they mate."