12-Foot, 1,200-Pound Great White Shark Spotted off the Coast of South Carolina After Vanishing From Data-Tracking Tool for a Year

A massive shark had been missing for a year despite being attached to a data-tracking tool. However, it has returned and was tracked off the coast of America this week.

Giant Great White Shark Ironbound Returns

About a year ago, the great white shark, Ironbound, was discovered close to New Jersey. It has now been spotted close to the South Carolina coast, Daily Star reported.

The predator, known as Ironbound, is around 12 feet tall and weighs about 1,189 pounds. According to OCEARCH, he was detected twice on Thursday early in the morning. The group studies marine creatures and offers a current shark sightings and migration database.

Their data shows Ironbound was tagged on Oct. 3, 2019, next to Nova Scotia in Canada. Once the shark breaks the water's surface, the tag on him pings to the database, providing scientists and other experts with a clear path to their ocean travels.

Upon initial inspection, Bob Hueter, the head scientist at OCEARCH, discovered that the shark was about 20 years old. Ironbound still has more growing to accomplish despite its enormous size because great white sharks are believed to live for nearly 70 years.

The shark is estimated to have traveled 15,186 kilometers over four years. The species migrates to northern waters in the summer and warmer seas in the winter.

Great white shark sightings have been reported as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. Great white males typically reach lengths of 11 to 13 feet. Females reach heights of 15 to 16 feet.

According to the OCEARCH expedition leader Chris Fisher, Ironbound is a tough shark. He said the great white was feisty and fought a lot more than they observed among its kind. Ironbound was reportedly very determined and was much harder for the guys to tame.

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Ironbound and Migration

In a previous report from Science Times last year, Ironbound was spotted off the coast of New Jersey on April 28 at 10:30 p.m. He was first tagged in 2019.

At the time, he had traveled around 13,000 miles since he was first tagged. Ironbound has repeatedly gone back and forth between Nova Scotia and the Florida Keys.

According to the Dutch Shark Society, great white migrates for food. Their destination is predicted by the location near their habitats, where there is an abundance of suitable mammals like seals and sea lions.

Another reason for migration is birthing. They go to places with sufficient food and they deem safe for the juvenile sharks to thrive.

Shark migration patterns differ per species in terms of distance. Great white sharks can travel 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) annually or at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) per day between the California coast and the Pacific Ocean. While only traveling 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) annually during the migratory season, coastal pelagic sharks.