Save the Great White Shark

Patrolling the oceans unchanged for millions of years, the great white shark is the world's largest predatory fish. Ironically, this formidable hunter has become the hunted, pursued by sports fishermen for trophies and commercial fishers for its dorsal fins, the chief ingredient in shark fin soup. The shark has become so threatened that scientists like Dr. Ramón Bonfil fear that, without protection, the great white may slide into extinction.

Photos and Animation Courtesy of Michael Scholl

Recently, the MCM Branch of South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and the Universities of Cape Town and Pretoria along the coast of South Africa, collaborated with Dr. Bonfil to shed light on the life of the great white shark - still poorly understood in spite of its notoriety.  South Africa is one of the few countries to protect great whites along its coastal waters, yet this 200-mile-wide coastal area may be insufficient to fully save these fish from fishing fleets. By attaching satellite tags to the backs of several sharks, Bonfil has tracked the great whites of South Africa to depths of over 2,100 feet, and distances of 500 miles.  However, further research is needed to fully understand if current protected areas are large enough.

You can help protect one of the earth's marvels of evolution -- the great white shark --  by contributing what you can to Dr. Bonfil's research efforts. By following sharks into the full expanse of the ocean, scientists can collect the data needed to safeguard great white sharks, and the ecosystems in which they play an ancient and vital role.

Click here to make a donation to save these majestic creatures.
Read more about Dr. Bonfil’s research in the February 11 edition of the New York Times.

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