Meet Sharkzilla: The Massive Mako Shark Terrorizing Long Island Waters

A 12-foot mako shark, dubbed Sharkzilla, was identified in the waters off Long Island, New York, after leaving significant bite marks on large marine mammals. According to a Discovery Channel Shark Week special hosted by marine biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell, the predator is a pregnant mother mako shark hunting to sustain herself and protect her offspring.

The shark first drew the attention of researchers when mauled sea life began washing up along the New York coastline.

Investigation into Potential Genetic Mutation

Due to the shark’s size and aggressive hunting patterns, Dr. Craig O’Connell initially investigated whether the animal had been genetically altered. O’Connell pointed to historical environmental hazards in the region to support this hypothesis.

In the late 1960s, they dumped 15,000 barrels of nuclear waste in the Hudson Canyon. Ten years later, they went out to check on these barrels, and they were all leaking. If animals are subjected to nuclear waste, this could cause genetic mutations and abnormal growth. If this predator is genetically altered, it could be faster, stronger and deadlier than any predator on Earth. We are calling it Sharkzilla.

Dr. Craig O’Connell

The theory suggested that leaking radioactive waste barrels from the Hudson Canyon could have created a super-predator. However, this conclusion was later overturned by biological evidence.

DNA Results and Biological Findings

To determine the shark’s origins, O’Connell’s research team deployed baited underwater cameras to collect the animal’s DNA. The genetic results confirmed that the shark was not a radioactive mutant.

The analysis revealed that the 12-foot mako is a naturally occurring, albeit extraordinarily large, pregnant female. The increased aggression and hunting frequency are attributed to the biological demands of pregnancy and the instinct to defend her offspring, according to the Discovery Channel special.

While the shark’s size and impact on humpback whales are unusual, the findings move the explanation from speculative mutation to maternal biological drive.