Scientists Put Cameras on Sharks to Watch Them Hunt Seals in a Kelp Forest

By Roni Dengler
Apr 3, 2019 10:10 AMNov 12, 2019 3:06 PM
Shark-Cam-1024x721
A shark tagged for the study. (Credit: Jewell et al. (2019) Biology Letters)

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Tall undulating seaweed known as kelp grows in thick underwater forests off the southern coasts of Africa. The kelp forests were once thought to provide a safe haven to Cape fur seals from great white sharks. Then researchers put GoPro-like high-resolution cameras on the predators.

Instead of being deterred by the underwater flora, the sharks dive right into thick kelp forests in pursuit of prey, the researchers find. It’s a new discovery for shark researchers, who had previously thought the forests were off-limits for hungry sharks.

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