A terrifying shark that one scientist theorised could be a radioactive mutant has been chomping sea life up and down the coast of New York, prompting fears of what is causing the beast’s blood lust
A bloodthirsty sea beast was believed ripping the likes of whales, seals and tuna to total shreds off the coast of New York, with one expert claiming that dew to the creature’s size it could be a radioactive mutant before its true identity was revealed.
The shark, which left a left a 24-inch bite on a humpback whale and a 22-inch wound on a grey seal, has ben tracked by marine biologist Craig O’Connell as part of Discovery’s Shark Week special Sharkzilla Takes New York programme, which posited that the creature may have gained its remarkable size due to being born close to radioactive waste.
O’Connell had previously warned hat decades-old leaking nuclear waste dumped in the Hudson Canyon could have created a genetically enhanced killer, saying, “Faster, stronger and deadlier than any predator on Earth. We are calling it Sharkzilla.”
However, the expert has now been able to rule out this theory, having obtained some of the creature’s DNA in a remarkable encounter that saw him and his team use baited cameras to lure the creature towards them.
Rather than being some strange mutant, the creature is something perhaps more dangerous in the natural world: a massive, super protective mother Mako shark that as well as needing to feed her current pups is also pregnant.
The incredible discovery comes weeks after potentially the world’s largest shark outsmarted scientists trying to track her.
Acording to a team of marine biologists tracking the creature, a 20ft underwater monster is currently swimming close to the coast of the US and Canada, with researchers calling her Big Rose due to a rose-shaped mark on her fin.
While the remarkable shark has remained elusive, experienced marine biologist Dr Neil Hammerschlag is reportedly working to track Big Rose down, with his efforts to be revealed as part of American TV’s iconic Shark Week coverage.
According to reports, Hammerschlag’s hunt for the notorious beast saw him come face to face with her, while hunting for great whites off the coast of Canada’s Nova Scotia, near a small area known locally as Mud Island in the North Atlantic.
Using massive bluefin tuna as bait, researchers managed to attract and tag several sharks measuring well over 10ft, but reportedly Big Rose remained as elusive as ever despite being believed to be in the area.
However, after hours of searching, Big Rose would finally emerge, swimming near the researchers’ boat and displaying her iconic rose-shaped fin marking, much to the delight of those on board.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Dr Hammerschlag and his team were unable to attract the 50-year-old shark to come any closer to the vessel in order to plant a tracking device on her, despite using several more tuna carcasses to tempt her to within range, with the wily great white swimming away without a trace.
Marine biologists present for the rare interaction were able to get a few measurements of the creature, who they estimate weighs in at about 3 tonnes, and is around 20ft in length and 6ft in width.
For context, no shark has ever been officially measured at longer than 20ft, meaning Big Rose could be the biggest ever seen by humans.