Researchers conducting camera-based surveys off the coast of one of Samoa’s smallest populated islands found something unexpected when they looked at the footage: An endangered leopard shark.
A group conducting surveys with National Geographic Pristine Seas was dropping baited underwater camera systems, also known as BRUVs, off the coast of Samoa’s Apolima Island. That's when they managed to capture footage of the rare leopard shark, or Stegostoma tigrinum, which is sometimes also called a zebra shark:
While the endangered species has been caught on camera before, this was the first time that the shark has been recorded in Samoan waters. Previous reports suggested that the species could occasionally be found there, but the researchers say the footage is the first verifiable evidence that the shark is also found near the Samoan islands.
But beyond adding evidence of the shark’s range, the footage helps illustrate the importance of deploying cameras in wildlife research. BRUVs are unmanned baited cameras that are typically left alone in the ocean for about an hour in an attempt to document wildlife that may be more skittish around human presence.
Impressively, the zebra shark was actually captured on the team’s first camera deployment in the region earlier this summer.
“A single camera deployment can reveal something entirely unexpected and add an important piece to our understanding of a species distribution,” said National Geographic Pristine Sea scientist Jett Walker.
The leopard shark is a slow-moving shark that’s typically found along sandy bottoms, as the shark prefers a diet of gastropods and bivalve mollusks, such as snails, clams, and mussels. But the footage also adds to growing evidence that the sharks can be found in coral reefs.
The successful capture on the group’s first baited camera drop in the region also gives the researchers a “promising start” to their work in the region.
National Geographic’s Pristine Seas mixes filmmaking and underwater photography with scientific research. The group’s work has already helped to support the establishment of 31 protected marine reserves.
The footage isn't just aiding in conservation – it adds to a growing pile of evidence of how camera traps can aid wildlife research and conservation.
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For more inspiring ocean research powered by camera technology, read about the shelling dolphin captured on camera. Or, for a laugh, read about the tiger shark that stole a camera.
