A great white shark named Unama'ki that made its way into the Gulf of Mexico last October has now traveled a little bit closer to Louisiana.
Ocearch, a research group that studies the movements of whales, seals, turtles, and more, first tagged Unama'ki in September 2019 in Nova Scotia. Since then, the shark has made her way down the East Coast and on Monday morning was pinged southeast of Bayou Vista. Tuesday, she had moved a bit back to the west, south of New Orleans.
Looks like white shark Unama’ki wants to participate in #MardiGras2020 after all! She turned around after pinging much farther west than we usually see white sharks go in the Gulf. Her newest ping is south of New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/BIq60H7d1x
— OCEARCH (@OCEARCH) February 25, 2020
The group said that this is the first time they have tracked a white shark to this area off the Louisiana coast, asking, "Is this a whole new piece to the white shark puzzle?"
They added that the water temperature in the area where Unama'ki last pinged was around 70 degree Fahrenheit.
Ocearch said Unama'ki is being watched closely because she may lead researchers to the site where she gives birth and "exposes and new white shark nursery."
Unama'ki's trip down the coast has taken her 3,292 miles in 103 days.
You can follow Unama'ki's journey here.
