A massive whale shark stretching nearly 20 feet in length was spotted last week gliding through the waters of Eilat's coral reserve.

Local driving instructor Sagi David Kabra, who captured the sighting, said, "I was leading a freediving session in the coral reserve when I suddenly spotted the whale shark. It was an incredibly moving experience. Over the past five years, I've been fortunate to have many such encounters in the gulf, but it had been about six months since my last sighting. I'd been eagerly waiting to see one again. This magical moment lasted about three and a half minutes."

During one such sighting, Cabra saw the adult whale shark accompanied by two precious baby sharks.

Video: The whale shark accompanied by two baby sharks / Credit: Sagi David Kabra, Freedive Eilat

According to Cabra, these massive fish often venture close to the shore in search of food, which is why he cautioned to "let them move freely and avoid touching them. There's also a strict prohibition against harming them with any watercraft."

As the largest fish in the world, the whale shark cuts an impressive figure but poses no threat to humans. In Israel, these gentle giants are protected species, reflecting their global status as endangered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed them in its Red List of threatened species. To put their size into perspective, the largest accurately measured whale shark was a staggering 41.5 feet long and tipped the scales at over 47,400 pounds.

Despite their enormous size, many divers are drawn to these peaceful creatures, often swimming alongside them and even hitching short rides. Whale sharks have been spotted in various locations worldwide, including the Red Sea. However, their population is facing a worrying decline due to both commercial and recreational hunting practices.

The whale shark's story in modern science began in April 1828 when it was first identified off the coast of South Africa. Its name is a nod to both its impressive size and its unique feeding technique – filtering tiny organisms from the water, much like the largest mammals of the sea, whales.

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With an estimated average of 250 years that can reach over 500 years, the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is believed to be the longest-living vertebrate on Earth, surpassing even giant tortoises.

A recent study, presented at the Society of Experimental Biology Conference in Prague, sheds new light on the sharks' amazing longevity.

According to the study, the watery top predators' longevity is attributed to unique metabolic adaptations that do not decline significantly with age.

Greenland sharks have an exceptionally slow growth rate of about 0.5 cm per year and can survive in temperatures as low as -1.8 degrees Celsius with minimal movement. Their late maturation (around 150 years), large size (typically 24 feet and 2,220 pounds), and cold Arctic and North Atlantic environment also play a role.

Unlike other animals, the Greenland shark's metabolic rate and enzyme activity do not appear to change significantly with age, indicating metabolic stability across different ages, which contributes to their extraordinary longevity. However, their enzyme activity increases significantly at higher temperatures, potentially accelerating aging and posing a threat from rising global temperatures, particularly in the Arctic.

Greenland sharks are efficient hunters, preying on squids, seals, and other fish, and are considered top predators. Their flesh is considered a delicacy in Iceland and Greenland, despite its high toxicity from trimethylamine oxide. It must be boiled multiple times to make it safe to eat.

Researchers hope insights from studying the sharks' longevity could provide insights into anti-aging mechanisms applicable to humans.

Sources: Mundo em Revista, Independent, Live Science, Business Insider, Mar Sem Fim, Olhar Digital, La Nación, La Vanguardia, El Economista, New York Post, Newsweek, Yahoo News, The Scottish Sun, Super Abril, Fanatik, Media24, Secret China, Weather News Point, Interesting Engineering, Phys.org

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Scientists have discovered traces of cocaine in wild sharks off the coast of Brazil, shedding light on the potential environmental impact of the illegal drug trade. The unprecedented study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, reveals that all 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks tested positive for cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine.

Between September 2021 and August 2023, fishing fleets captured the sharks – three male and ten female – off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state in southeastern Brazil. Researchers found the drug and its metabolite in the sharks' muscle tissue and livers, raising concerns about the extent of drug pollution in marine ecosystems.

While the exact source of exposure remains unclear, scientists speculate that cocaine traces may have entered coastal waters through untreated sewage discharged from rivers and urban canals. Another potential source could be cocaine packages drifting in the water, posing a risk if sharks inadvertently bite into them.

"This is the first time cocaine has been detected in wild sharks worldwide," the study's authors noted. "Our findings point to the potential impacts of the presence of illicit drugs in environments."

The discovery draws parallels to the infamous "Cocaine Bear" incident in Georgia, where a black bear overdosed on cocaine believed to have been discarded by drug smugglers. However, unlike the fictionalized movie adaptation, the bear's actual fate was likely a swift overdose.

Researchers expressed concern about cocaine potentially reentering the food chain, as these sharks are often fished for their meat. The study also revealed that cocaine levels were three times higher in muscle tissue than in the liver, with female sharks showing higher concentrations compared to males.

The amount of cocaine and benzoylecgonine found in the sharks "exceeded levels reported in the literature for fish and other aquatic organisms by up to two orders of magnitude," according to the study.

This research adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting the presence of illegal drugs and pharmaceuticals in water bodies worldwide. Previous studies in São Paulo state detected cocaine contamination posing ecological threats to marine life, including mussels and oysters. In 2019, British researchers found freshwater shrimp exposed to cocaine and other pharmaceuticals in UK rivers.

The UN reports a significant increase in global cocaine consumption over recent decades, with Brazilians among the largest consumers in South America. The researchers chose to study the sharpnose shark due to its small size and habitat in areas susceptible to sewage contamination, making it an "environmental sentinel."

As this study unveils the extent of drug pollution in marine ecosystems, it underscores the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment and stricter measures to combat drug trafficking to protect marine life and public health.

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A fiberglass replica of Bruce, the shark featured in Steven Spielberg's classic 1975 film Jaws, was hoisted up above the main escalator of the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, where he will greet guests for the foreseeable future.

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The shark is expected to be a major draw for the museum, which plans to open its doors to the public on April 30, 2021. The shark will be hanging in a public area where people can see him without paying for a museum ticket. 

"We plan on having Bruce greet our visitors for as long as we can keep him up there," Academy Museum Director Bill Kramer said. "It's a free space and a free moment for our visitors to bring delight and hopefully inspire them to learn more about the movies, the history of visual effects, and how this prop was made."

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Passengers on tourist boats were surprised to spot the visitor.

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Yoram Hemo of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority said, "The shark seen in Eilat Bay is a young female approximately three meters song. These sharks aren't a danger to humans because they feed off plankton, rather than flesh. These are very gentle sharks and they should be given a wide berth and not harassed, touched, or disturbed while they search for food."

Video: Shay Alush / Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Whale sharks arrive in Eilat every summer, mostly because of the warmer water. Whale sharks are considered the friendliest shark species in the world and do not pose a danger to humans.

Whale sharks can reach a length of 12 meters (40 feet) and weigh up to 20 tons.

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