{"id":2191267,"date":"2026-06-06T06:00:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T05:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2191267"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:33:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:33:19","slug":"its-as-big-as-a-ford-transit-van-can-reach-speeds-of-50kph-and-can-detect-blood-from-a-gobsmacking-3-miles-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/its-as-big-as-a-ford-transit-van-can-reach-speeds-of-50kph-and-can-detect-blood-from-a-gobsmacking-3-miles-away\/","title":{"rendered":"It&#8217;s as big as a Ford transit van, can reach speeds of 50kph and can detect blood from a gobsmacking 3 miles away&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The great white shark is the only extant species in the genus\u00a0<em>Carcharodon<\/em>\u00a0and the largest predatory fish in the world.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why are they called great white sharks?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Great white sharks belong to the family Lamnidae, which also includes porbeagle sharks, salmon sharks and mako sharks, which are the\u00a0fastest shark in the ocean. A type of mackerel shark, the great white is named after its white belly.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What do great white sharks look like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The top of its streamlined body is grey or brown in colour, mimicking the ocean depths, while its white belly matches the sunlight shining on the water\u2019s surface, allowing it to blend in with its environment. Scientists have also discovered\u00a0cells\u00a0called melanocytes in the great white\u2019s skin that appear to allow the fish to adjust its colouration, helping this predator to remain inconspicuous before it strikes from below.<\/p>\n<p>They have a large and triangular dorsal fin, a powerful lunate caudal fin, a conical snout and sharp, triangular teeth.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How big are great white sharks?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Great white sharks can grow to up to 6.4m in length and weigh as much as 2,041kg.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where are great white sharks found?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Though associated with Australia and South Africa, great white sharks occur in most temperate and tropical oceans, to depths of 1,200m. They are endothermic, regulating their body temperature to allow them to swim in waters ranging from 2.7\u00b0C to 27\u00b0C. As the sharks age, their habitat preferences change: adults prefer a pelagic life while pups and young sharks tend to be found in coastal and estuary habitats.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Are there any great white sharks in UK waters?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>According to the University of Plymouth, great white sharks are yet to be confirmed in UK waters, but some scientists think they might visit in future, as seas warm with climate change. Still, there have been reports since 1965, which have led to investigations by conservationist Richard Peirce. Some of the sightings were credible, but it is likely some were of the same shark.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How fast is the great white shark?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This super-swimmer can cruise for long periods of time but is also capable of high-speed pursuit, reaching about 50kph.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How does it attack?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-3B2FBBBE_0015.mp4\" poster=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2026-05-23-at-18.02.43.png\" preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/video><\/figure>\n<p>The great white shark is an ambush hunter known for breaching (launching itself out of the water) to catch a meal in its sharp, triangular teeth, disabling its target with a bite force of up to 1.8 metric tonnes.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What do great white sharks eat?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Their diet is primarily marine mammals, including\u00a0seals,\u00a0dolphins and some species of whale, but they also feed on seabirds,\u00a0turtles, crustaceans,\u00a0molluscs\u00a0and carcasses. Their young feed on smaller prey such as fish and\u00a0rays.<\/p>\n<p>Great white sharks travel along coastlines rich in food sources, such as\u00a0seal lion\u00a0rookeries. They have an acute sense of smell, detecting a colony of seals 3km away and one drop of blood in 100 litres of water.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Should humans feel threatened?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Negative portrayals of great whites as terrifying man-eaters in books and films like\u00a0<em>Jaws<\/em>\u00a0have had consequences for many shark species.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Florida Museum of Natural History\u00a0releases an annual international shark attack report and explains that the vast majority of unprovoked attacks are \u2018test bites\u2019, when a shark misidentifies a human as its preferred prey.<\/p>\n<p>Millions of us swim in the world\u2019s oceans each year and shark attacks remain rare. Figures for 2023 showed there were 10 fatalities caused by three species of shark:\u00a0bull shark, tiger and great white.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How long do great white sharks live for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Great white sharks can live for up to 73 years<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do great white sharks breed?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Females don\u2019t reach maturity until 33 years old. The male uses claspers to internally fertilise the female, who gives birth to between two and 17 live pups.<\/p>\n<p>While in utero, young may be nourished by unfertilised eggs (for protein) and \u2018milk\u2019 secreted by the female. The gestation period is estimated at 12 months with females thought to give birth in temperate shelf waters during spring to late summer, but more research is needed. Pups are born ranging from 120-165cm in length and are fully capable of hunting on their own. In January 2024, the first-ever sighting of a possible live newborn great white shark was reported in\u00a0<em>Environmental Biology of Fishes<\/em>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe id=\"927352470\" title=\"World's First Images of Newborn White Shark?\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NfuaPwUMOF0?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.discoverwildlife.com\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-129157385_7=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-18=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do great white sharks have predators?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Great whites are\u00a0apex predators\u00a0in the ocean food web. However,\u00a0pods of killer whales are known to hunt the species\u00a0and in March 2024 the\u00a0<em>African Journal of Marine Science<\/em> reported the first documented instance of an individual killer whale hunting a juvenile great white shark.<\/p>\n<p>The male incapacitated his prey, before consuming its liver, and the speed of the attack surprised scientists.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What threatens great white sharks?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The global population of great white sharks is unknown, but thought to be in decline \u2013 the species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Great whites are often caught as bycatch, mostly in inshore fisheries. The sharks are also snared in beach protection nets in Australia and South Africa, but can be released. Shark fins and jaws are traded and their meat consumed or exported.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How are they being protected?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The great white is listed under several wildlife treaties, including Appendix I and II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). \u201cTo prevent overfishing and allow recovery, it is recommended that all [great] white shark conservation commitments under international wildlife treaties be fully implemented,\u201d says the IUCN. \u201c[Great] white sharks should be subject to catch limits based on scientific advice and\/or the precautionary approach.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/fish\/great-white-shark-facts-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">article<\/a> by Jo Price was first published by Discover Wildlife on 23 May 2026.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Help to protect wildlife<\/h2>\n<p>Focusing on Wildlife works closely with local conservation partners in almost 50 countries to deliver locally led conservation solutions that are sustainable, scientifically robust, and linked to human well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Our approach focuses on protecting and restoring habitats, saving species from extinction, and influencing global policy and business practices to prioritize nature.<\/p>\n<p>Work with us to support the vital work of our conservation partners by making a monthly donation as little as $5.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/install-popup-button.js\" id=\"donorbox-popup-button-installer\"> <\/script><a id=\"preview_inline_popup_button\" class=\"dbox-donation-button\" style=\"background: #0dc5dc; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; display: flex; gap: 8px; width: fit-content; font-size: 16px; border-radius: 5px; line-height: 24px; padding: 8px 24px;\" href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/focusing-on-wildlife-needs-your-support?default_interval=m&amp;amount=25\" data-reminder-widget-enabled=\"true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">PROTECT WILDLIFE<\/a><script type=\"module\" src=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/widgets.js\" async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Our conservation partners spend at least 80 percent of the money raised on actual fieldwork rather than administration and fundraising.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"border-top: 1px solid white;\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The great white shark is the only extant species in the genus\u00a0Carcharodon\u00a0and the largest predatory fish in the world. Why are they called great white sharks?\u00a0 Great white sharks belong to the family Lamnidae, which also includes porbeagle sharks, salmon sharks and mako sharks, which are the\u00a0fastest shark in the ocean. A type of mackerel [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1178,"featured_media":2206188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/10\/Great-white-shark-1-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6985,5],"tags":[4011,2566,2938,7814,3816,5558,11311,3419,558,451,4626,10412,3525,4341,10329,12169,12047],"class_list":["post-2191267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-wildlife","tag-climate-change","tag-endangered-species","tag-great-white-shark","tag-hunting","tag-killer-whales","tag-mackerel","tag-mako-shark","tag-marine-mammals","tag-predators","tag-seabirds","tag-seals","tag-shark-attack","tag-shark-fins","tag-sharks","tag-turtles","tag-whale-hunting","tag-white-shark"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1178"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2191267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2206188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2191267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2191267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2191267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}