South Africa's Missing Great White Shark Mystery Solved

South Africa is renowned for having one of the world's biggest populations of great white sharks. In Cape Town, skilled "shark spotters" documented a peak of over 300 great white shark sightings across eight beaches in 2011, but have recorded no sightings since 2019. These declines have sparked concerns about the overall conservation status of the species.

According to the Daily Maverick, however, the mystery might finally be solved. Evidence points to the most likely culprits behind the Fale Bays's missing great white sharks being a pair of killer whales whose arrival in the bay coincided with a sharp decline in great white activity.

Conserving great white sharks is vital because they have a pivotal role in marine ecosystems. As top predators, they help maintain the health and balance of marine food webs. Their presence influences the behaviour of other marine animals, affecting the entire ecosystem's structure and stability, The Conversation writes.