Why Norfolk Island has the world’s largest tiger sharks
Researchers have discovered that tiger sharks near Norfolk Island are among the largest in the world due to a consistent food supply and lack of human interference. The study highlights the unique ecological conditions of the region that allow these predators to reach exceptional sizes.
Why it matters
Understanding the factors that contribute to the health and size of apex predators is crucial for marine conservation and ecosystem management.
The steel off-chuting slide at Headstone Point on Norfolk Island, where cow remains are dumped into the water. Audrey Richardson Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
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Share A A A At Norfolk Island Airport the signs say “welcome to paradise”. The super-sized tiger sharks that live here must surely agree.
In the pristine waters around this South Pacific outcrop, 1400 kilometres from the Australian mainland, the tiger sharks grow fat on juicy mutton birds and beef offal. They roam freely across thousands of kilometres from New Zealand to New Caledonia, with the occasional jaunt to the Great Barrier Reef. And left unmolested by humans, they grow to a ripe old age.
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