yego.me
💡 Stop wasting time. Read Youtube instead of watch. Download Chrome Extension

Great White Sharks of Guadalupe Island | Most Wanted Sharks


2m read
·Nov 11, 2024

NARRATOR: But everyone loves Lucy. The story of this great white is the classic "Finding Nemo" tale, but about 2,000 pounds heavier. When divers spotted Lucy back in 2008, her distinctive tail wound looked fresh. And she seemed in desperate need of a good meal. A damaged caudal often puts a shark's life in danger. It's crucial for propelling a shark through water.

APRYL BOYLE: Lucy's tail deformity could be from fighting with another shark when she was younger.

NARRATOR: And Lucy's not only survived, she's thrived. She did it by modifying the way she swims to sway a little more than the average great white. And now Lucy's adoring public keeps an eye out for her signature floppy fin and her unique swagger. Unlike other female great whites, Lucy returns to Guadalupe Island every year. And that is because she has not given birth yet. If she did, she'd be gone at least 12 to 18 months, because that's how long a shark pregnancy lasts.

NARRATOR: Fans don't know for sure why Lucy is still not a mom. It could be that male sharks are turned off by her misshapen fin. Or maybe Lucy hasn't yet met Zapata, the most famous and recognizable male great white of Guadalupe Island. This tough guy is a 14-footer, who has mixed it up with other apex predators and has the battle scars to prove it.

RALPH COLLIER: Zapata is a very large shark. To sustain the wounds it received, the attacking shark must have been very large, possibly 18 or 20 feet in length.

NARRATOR: He might not play well with other sharks. But luckily, unlike Bullet, Zapata actually enjoys hanging out with people. That's my favorite shark right there, Zapata.

NARRATOR: Scarboard, at an intimidating 18 feet long, isn't just one of the most massive sharks at Guadalupe Island, she's one of the biggest great whites in the world. But like all sharks, no one will know for sure how old she is until after she dies.

RALPH COLLIER: One of the ways to determine the age of a shark is by dissecting it. If we cut through a vertebra, we can see rings similar to those of a tree showing annual growth. She got her nautically themed name because of scars on the right, or starboard, side of her body.

APRYL BOYLE: When sharks engage in head-to-head combat, they can do incredible damage to each other, which is what happened to Scarboard. But sharks have amazing healing abilities.

NARRATOR: Scarboard shows up at Guadalupe every other year. And the next time you see her, many of her scars might be gone. Bullet, Lucy, Zapata, and Scarboard, four sharks whose physical flaws grabbed our attention and helped make them famous.

More Articles

View All
15 Things That Are NOT a Priority in Life
Not everything they tell you is a priority is actually a priority. In reality, most of the things society is trying to push as the norm aren’t actually doing you any good in the long run. It might be time to reconsider some stuff. So, by the end of this v…
Pushing Limits With America's Strongest Disabled Woman | National Geographic
I’m a very strong person, and I’m not just talking like muscles. I’m a very stubborn person, and stubborn is a really good word for me because I just don’t give up. I love when someone tells me, “Oh, you can’t do that.” Oh really? Watch me. [Music] So, …
First and secondhand accounts | Reading | Khan Academy
Hello readers! I just got back from the library with these books. Oh, big surprise, you say? I went to the library! I found two books. No, I get it, but these books will help us talk about the difference between a first and second-hand account. You see, …
Why you SHOULDN'T rent a home
What’s up, guys? It’s Graham here. So, a week ago, I made a video titled “Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Home,” and I got so many comments taking that title way too literally without watching the context of the video. Which, by the way, the entire point of that …
Gov Of The Gaps (Mirror)
We’re getting a lot of disease in our town lately, and we don’t know how to stop it. Does anyone have any ideas? “Yes, I have an idea.” “Mr. Scientist, go ahead.” “Yes, I have this theory. You see, that disease is caused by teeny tiny little life forms…
How I Made My First Million Dollars Part 1 | Ask Mr. Wonderful Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary
I have an email here for this week’s episode of Ask Mr. Wonderful. Uh, rather interesting, I think it’s going to take us on quite a journey from Yasmina. “Yesmina, hi Mr. Wonderful. I’m a huge Shark Tank fan. I’ve been watching the show for eight years. …