Marine species tracking is providing some fascinating insights into their lives and movements. OCEARCH Org provided a way to study the animals, and it's an interactive activity for animal-lovers. Following them online, anyone who is interested can see the movements of "their" favorite. Gurthrude, an adult tiger shark was tagged on May 17, 2018, near Maputo in Mozambique by the Ponta do Ouro shark research team.

Since then, Gurthrude, the 13-ft (nearly 4m) female shark has made her way across the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. She lately 'pinged' on August 10 east of Madagascar after swimming about 1,330 miles (2,142km).

The previous ping posted on Ponto Shark Diaries Facebook page showed the 540kg/1200lbs shark was south of the island on July 21.

Tiger shark swam across deep channel to Madagascar

This mission to Madagascar illustrates just how far a tiger shark can swim as she is far east of the African coast. According to OCEARCH's Global Shark Tracker, a "ping" happens when the tagged dorsal fin breaks the water. This then sends a signal to a satellite and an estimate of its whereabouts is established.

During her journey, she would have had to swim across a deep channel, where in places it can reach a depth of 3,292 m (10,800 ft). Since it's the first time they tracked a shark like Gurthrude to her current situation, there is no way of knowing where she will pop up next. In theory, I suppose, if she carries on in a relatively straight line, she could end up in Reunion, which is closer to Madagascar than where her journey started.

Irrespective, as Ponto Shark Diaries Facebook page notes, this is an opportunity to learn more about the predators.

Meanwhile, Gurthrude is a long way from the protected marine area where she was first tagged.

The Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve in Mozambique is way too small to contain these animals that "move broadly within the southwest Indian Ocean."

Other species tracked by OCEARCH

Gurthrude is not the only marine species tracked through the OCEARCH tags. The ocearch.org website shows those species across much of the globe that they keep tabs on. For example, there's some interesting speculation going on now about a great white shark named Miss Costa. According to Chesapeake Bay Magazine, her tagged movements show that she may be pregnant. They noted that the 1,668-pound great white shark recently "pinged" off the Virginia Beach coast, and the coming weeks will tell whether or not she's expecting."

On the website, there are many others, like Thalassa, a female loggerhead turtle who was recorded near Greece in June and swam clear across the Mediterranean sea, passing south of Malta.

Thalassa pinged on August 2017 near the coast of Tunisia.

If you love to interact with animals and want to learn more about the sea species head on over to the OCEARCH site and find out some fascinating facts. Which shark, turtle, or other species will you choose to be your favorite?
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