In an extraordinary feat of marine migration, a silky shark named Genie embarked on a remarkable journey spanning over 17,000 miles, from the Galapagos Islands to the vast expanse of the open ocean and back again, setting a new record for the longest documented migration among silky sharks.
Marine scientist Pelayo Salinas de León and his research team paid tribute to the late marine biologist Eugenie Clark, fondly remembered as “The Shark Lady,” by naming the intrepid traveler Genie. Clark’s lifelong dedication to shark research and advocacy for improving their public image inspired the gesture.
Salinas de León expressed astonishment at the extent of Genie’s journey, reaching deep into the Pacific Ocean. The team has put forward three hypotheses to explain this extraordinary migration: Genie may have ventured in search of abundant food sources, to give birth, or to engage in mating activities. The tracking technology utilized to monitor Genie’s movements holds promise for unraveling these mysteries in the future.
Given the declining population trends observed among silky sharks, understanding their migratory patterns and habitat preferences is paramount for effective conservation efforts.
The incredible odyssey of Genie has been chronicled in the prestigious Journal of Fish Biology.
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Today’s episode was crafted by Michael Levitt and Rachel Carlson, with editing by Viet Le and Christopher Intagliata. Fact-checking was conducted by Rachel, Regina Barber, and Emily Kwong. Carleigh Strange and Patrick Murray lent their expertise as audio engineers.