1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:10,243 --> 00:00:11,111 MAN: Oh my God. 4 00:00:11,878 --> 00:00:13,680 MAN: You’re in a bad spot. NEIL: I know, guys, get up. 5 00:00:13,747 --> 00:00:15,148 NARRATOR: The chance encounter, 6 00:00:15,215 --> 00:00:16,249 with a giant! 7 00:00:17,250 --> 00:00:19,619 Maybe the largest alive. 8 00:00:19,686 --> 00:00:21,855 MAN: That’s the biggest Bull Shark I’ve ever seen! 9 00:00:21,921 --> 00:00:24,657 NARRATOR: And evidence of more super-sized bull sharks! 10 00:00:24,724 --> 00:00:25,959 MAN (over radio): Two bull sharks, 11 00:00:26,026 --> 00:00:27,260 there’s two bull sharks. 12 00:00:27,327 --> 00:00:29,829 NARRATOR: Lurking just beneath the surface. 13 00:00:30,230 --> 00:00:31,498 Close to shore. 14 00:00:31,998 --> 00:00:33,733 STEVE (over radio): That’s a big shark. 15 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,035 NARRATOR: Close to people. 16 00:00:36,202 --> 00:00:37,804 MAN: Hold on to it! 17 00:00:37,871 --> 00:00:41,007 NARRATOR: Now, a team is on the trail of 18 00:00:41,074 --> 00:00:43,676 a family of hungry giants. 19 00:00:43,743 --> 00:00:46,613 JAMES (off-screen): This is military grade technology. 20 00:00:46,679 --> 00:00:48,214 NEIL: That is epic. 21 00:00:48,281 --> 00:00:49,482 NARRATOR: This is the hunt. 22 00:00:49,549 --> 00:00:51,084 JAMES (off-screen): Big bull shark down there! 23 00:00:51,151 --> 00:00:54,187 NARRATOR: For the world’s biggest bull shark! 24 00:01:02,962 --> 00:01:04,864 NARRATOR: Florida’s East Coast is one of America’s 25 00:01:04,931 --> 00:01:08,134 most popular destinations for beach-going vacationers. 26 00:01:12,806 --> 00:01:16,509 But there are also year-round residents. 27 00:01:19,345 --> 00:01:20,647 Just beneath the surf. 28 00:01:23,983 --> 00:01:27,854 Florida’s warm coastal waters are a hotbed for sharks. 29 00:01:31,658 --> 00:01:33,193 Including one of the most dangerous, 30 00:01:36,329 --> 00:01:37,831 the bull. 31 00:01:41,534 --> 00:01:44,370 Bull sharks are the deadliest sharks in the world after 32 00:01:44,437 --> 00:01:46,573 great whites and tigers. 33 00:01:47,707 --> 00:01:51,044 Adult bulls average around seven and a half feet long. 34 00:01:53,379 --> 00:01:56,616 But there is one bull shark that may be queen of them all. 35 00:01:58,485 --> 00:02:00,920 NEIL: The amazing thing about the wild is you never know 36 00:02:00,987 --> 00:02:03,957 what you’re going to encounter and no two days are the same. 37 00:02:09,295 --> 00:02:11,564 NARRATOR: For marine biologist Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, 38 00:02:12,332 --> 00:02:16,536 no day stands out more than May 27, 2012. 39 00:02:26,212 --> 00:02:29,382 Neil and his team of researchers head out to study 40 00:02:29,449 --> 00:02:32,218 the health and numbers of bull sharks in South Florida. 41 00:02:36,856 --> 00:02:39,058 NEIL: It was a normal trip; I was out with my students doing 42 00:02:39,125 --> 00:02:41,127 our ongoing surveys of sharks. 43 00:02:41,528 --> 00:02:43,496 MAN: This is a nice piece of Barracuda, 44 00:02:44,831 --> 00:02:46,166 only the freshest meats! 45 00:02:46,232 --> 00:02:49,169 NEIL: Uh, 75 feet of monofilament, a weight, 46 00:02:49,235 --> 00:02:51,804 200 foot of line, so it takes it down to the bottom, 47 00:02:52,238 --> 00:02:53,239 and a float. 48 00:02:54,174 --> 00:02:55,308 Alright, clear! 49 00:02:56,843 --> 00:03:00,246 NARRATOR: The University of Miami team gives average sized bulls, 50 00:03:00,346 --> 00:03:03,349 like this one, the usual check-up for science. 51 00:03:04,918 --> 00:03:06,085 WOMAN: If I feel where its jaw is, 52 00:03:06,152 --> 00:03:06,986 it can’t bite me. 53 00:03:07,587 --> 00:03:09,856 So, I’ll stay right behind it because it’s a good gripping point. 54 00:03:10,490 --> 00:03:12,559 NARRATOR: They keep it safe by continually pumping water 55 00:03:12,625 --> 00:03:14,394 through its gills so it can breathe. 56 00:03:15,195 --> 00:03:17,931 WOMAN 2: Are we good on everything else data-wise? 57 00:03:17,997 --> 00:03:20,400 Here I have a biopsy and in this one here I have a 58 00:03:20,466 --> 00:03:23,336 the fin clip sample so I’m just labeling those. 59 00:03:24,771 --> 00:03:27,140 NARRATOR: The grad students takes samples from one bull 60 00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:28,708 after another. 61 00:03:29,075 --> 00:03:32,111 WOMAN 2: 170! 170 FL! WOMAN: Get the total length as well. 62 00:03:36,416 --> 00:03:40,286 NARRATOR: Suddenly, all the smaller sharks disappear. 63 00:03:51,097 --> 00:03:52,832 MAN: You’re in a bad spot. NEIL: I know, you guys. 64 00:03:52,899 --> 00:03:55,435 Get off! I need you guys to get off... 65 00:03:55,802 --> 00:04:00,373 And all of sudden, one of the lines became very difficult to 66 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,076 bring in and I knew we had something big on it. 67 00:04:03,142 --> 00:04:05,178 I had no idea how big. 68 00:04:05,245 --> 00:04:07,647 NARRATOR: The whole team feels it; 69 00:04:07,714 --> 00:04:09,816 they are in the presence of greatness. 70 00:04:10,516 --> 00:04:11,684 MAN: This is insane. 71 00:04:11,751 --> 00:04:13,019 NARRATOR: A special shark. 72 00:04:13,086 --> 00:04:14,821 MAN: Okay, don't lean back. 73 00:04:15,855 --> 00:04:18,191 This animal was very hard to bring up here. 74 00:04:18,391 --> 00:04:19,959 A couple of times she just ran off. 75 00:04:20,026 --> 00:04:21,327 And no one could hold her. 76 00:04:21,861 --> 00:04:25,565 NARRATOR: The largest bull shark ever caught was 771 pounds, 77 00:04:26,532 --> 00:04:29,802 the scientists estimate that this one is bigger. 78 00:04:31,004 --> 00:04:32,205 MAN: How much would you say that fish weighs? 79 00:04:32,272 --> 00:04:33,873 MAN 2: At least 800 pounds. 80 00:04:33,940 --> 00:04:36,242 There’s no way is weighs less than 800 pounds. 81 00:04:36,309 --> 00:04:38,211 MAN 3: Bull cutter. MAN 4: Bull cutter. 82 00:04:38,278 --> 00:04:40,113 MAN: Can someone take a picture of this? 83 00:04:40,179 --> 00:04:42,115 NARRATOR: The typical adult bull shark is in 84 00:04:42,181 --> 00:04:43,616 the seven-foot range. 85 00:04:44,183 --> 00:04:46,452 This one, just over nine feet. 86 00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:49,489 NEIL: I think she’s 1,000 pounds. 87 00:04:49,555 --> 00:04:50,923 That’s my personal opinion. 88 00:04:50,990 --> 00:04:53,693 NARRATOR: They discover she’s a healthy strong female. 89 00:04:55,795 --> 00:04:58,865 And her extraordinary girth has her tipping the scales. 90 00:05:00,099 --> 00:05:01,367 WOMAN: 196. 91 00:05:01,768 --> 00:05:04,270 NARRATOR: It’s time to take tissue samples for DNA and 92 00:05:05,038 --> 00:05:06,873 draw blood from this amazing animal. 93 00:05:09,075 --> 00:05:11,711 MAN: Okay, got it. Fresh blood sample here. 94 00:05:12,011 --> 00:05:14,547 MAN 2: So now we have our blood sample from this huge bull shark; 95 00:05:14,614 --> 00:05:16,816 you can see the dark and richness of that blood. 96 00:05:19,552 --> 00:05:20,920 NARRATOR: To reach this size, 97 00:05:20,987 --> 00:05:22,822 she must be around 30 years old, 98 00:05:23,823 --> 00:05:26,626 no one knows for sure if they get any older. 99 00:05:27,460 --> 00:05:29,796 No one has seen anything like her in the 100 00:05:29,862 --> 00:05:31,597 United States in decades. 101 00:05:32,765 --> 00:05:34,400 NEIL: Alright guys we have a loose fish. 102 00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:36,969 MAN: Loose fish, fish is not secured to the boat by... 103 00:05:37,036 --> 00:05:39,105 NARRATOR: It’s possible that they’ve got their hands on 104 00:05:39,172 --> 00:05:41,808 the largest living bull shark in the ocean. 105 00:05:44,811 --> 00:05:47,513 MAN: Okay, hold on, I’m gonna use this pump to pull her out. 106 00:05:47,580 --> 00:05:50,049 NARRATOR: They release her no worse for wear. 107 00:05:53,019 --> 00:05:54,721 NEIL: It’s like those wrestlers who are all neck. 108 00:05:54,787 --> 00:05:55,655 And it was just like... 109 00:05:57,523 --> 00:05:58,691 I couldn’t even see its eyes, 110 00:05:59,192 --> 00:06:00,693 because there was just meat around it! 111 00:06:03,730 --> 00:06:05,865 NARRATOR: She disappears into the depths. 112 00:06:06,733 --> 00:06:08,968 But not before Neil and his team give her a name 113 00:06:09,035 --> 00:06:10,470 that befits her size. 114 00:06:12,705 --> 00:06:14,907 They call her Big Bull. 115 00:06:16,175 --> 00:06:18,144 NEIL (off-screen): In all the years of surveying sharks including 116 00:06:18,211 --> 00:06:21,581 hundreds of bull sharks, I’d never seen bull shark 117 00:06:21,647 --> 00:06:23,316 anywhere near that size. 118 00:06:24,650 --> 00:06:27,320 NARRATOR: The photos taken of Neil with Big Bull go viral. 119 00:06:28,087 --> 00:06:31,891 She captures the imagination of millions the world over. 120 00:06:32,992 --> 00:06:36,028 No one thought the ocean had giants like this anymore. 121 00:06:38,865 --> 00:06:40,566 NEIL (off-screen): It was incredible that we captured one of the 122 00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:43,002 largest specimens ever recorded! 123 00:06:43,536 --> 00:06:46,038 But it also showed us how little we actually 124 00:06:46,105 --> 00:06:47,640 know about bull sharks. 125 00:06:49,709 --> 00:06:51,778 NARRATOR: They could only guess how she got this big, 126 00:06:52,879 --> 00:06:54,447 the range of her territory, 127 00:06:54,981 --> 00:06:57,884 and whether she’s given birth to more giants like her. 128 00:07:00,686 --> 00:07:01,621 Until now. 129 00:07:02,622 --> 00:07:04,991 Eight years later there’s more. 130 00:07:06,159 --> 00:07:09,162 Big bull sharks are showing up all along Florida’s coastline. 131 00:07:12,031 --> 00:07:13,566 Fishermen notice first. 132 00:07:14,167 --> 00:07:17,270 FISHERMAN: Oh my gosh, what a monster. 133 00:07:17,970 --> 00:07:21,140 NARRATOR: 160 miles from where Big Bull was first captured. 134 00:07:23,776 --> 00:07:25,178 FISHERMAN: That’s a giant bull shark. 135 00:07:27,246 --> 00:07:30,750 NARRATOR: Then divers report large bulls by a shipwreck. 136 00:07:32,218 --> 00:07:35,288 Now scientists wonder if Big Bull has ushered in 137 00:07:35,388 --> 00:07:37,790 a new wave of giant sharks. 138 00:07:39,392 --> 00:07:44,163 Could this big momma have spawned a new generation of behemoths? 139 00:07:46,232 --> 00:07:48,301 NEIL: In humans, there are traits associated with 140 00:07:48,367 --> 00:07:50,670 being big or size that are hereditary. 141 00:07:50,736 --> 00:07:53,339 They're passed down from parent to offspring. 142 00:07:55,675 --> 00:07:57,810 And I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing applies in 143 00:07:57,877 --> 00:08:00,446 sharks that are hereditary, that could be contributing to 144 00:08:00,513 --> 00:08:02,281 the sheer size of Big Bull. 145 00:08:04,550 --> 00:08:06,986 NARRATOR: It’s time to find out if Big Bull is still here, 146 00:08:07,687 --> 00:08:10,523 and if other big sharks are her pups. 147 00:08:16,195 --> 00:08:18,564 NEIL: The goal of this trip is to gather more information 148 00:08:18,631 --> 00:08:21,834 that allows us to understand how and why she got so big, 149 00:08:21,901 --> 00:08:24,470 and ultimately figure out whether there’s even a 150 00:08:24,537 --> 00:08:26,172 bigger bull shark out there. 151 00:08:26,672 --> 00:08:29,308 NARRATOR: If Big Bull is still out here, 152 00:08:29,408 --> 00:08:31,110 and the mother of a large family, 153 00:08:32,111 --> 00:08:34,146 it may cause concern for beachgoers. 154 00:08:37,517 --> 00:08:39,952 Shark attacks in the areas just north of here have 155 00:08:40,019 --> 00:08:42,788 increased 37% in that last ten years. 156 00:08:47,059 --> 00:08:50,363 Bull sharks are crucial for a healthy ocean and 157 00:08:50,429 --> 00:08:52,064 they are near threatened, 158 00:08:52,131 --> 00:08:54,233 so a slew of big bulls would give 159 00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:56,736 the species hope for the future. 160 00:08:58,004 --> 00:09:02,241 Neil is rooting for the sharks and he’s not alone. 161 00:09:04,076 --> 00:09:08,781 Shark conservationist and former Royal Marine commando, James Glancy, 162 00:09:08,881 --> 00:09:12,218 joins the marine biologist for a chance to make history. 163 00:09:13,219 --> 00:09:15,521 JAMES: Florida is a really special to me because it’s 164 00:09:15,621 --> 00:09:19,158 where I first learned to dive as a kid in the '90s and 165 00:09:19,225 --> 00:09:22,061 I saw my first bull shark on that trip, 166 00:09:22,128 --> 00:09:25,565 and that gave me my passion for sharks and the ocean. 167 00:09:25,631 --> 00:09:28,601 So it’s incredible to be back here using the military skills 168 00:09:28,668 --> 00:09:32,672 that I’ve developed over my career to support shark science 169 00:09:32,738 --> 00:09:35,608 and to go out and find the world’s biggest bull shark. 170 00:09:38,844 --> 00:09:41,047 NARRATOR: But the conditions are not ideal. 171 00:09:41,113 --> 00:09:44,550 JAMES: Well the sun is out today but the swell is huge. 172 00:09:45,384 --> 00:09:46,986 It’s gonna be an interesting dive. 173 00:09:47,887 --> 00:09:50,523 MAN: Ripping currents, deep water, poor visibility, 174 00:09:50,590 --> 00:09:52,391 plus bull sharks? 175 00:09:58,130 --> 00:10:00,499 NARRATOR: They head to where divers have seen big bulls, 176 00:10:02,902 --> 00:10:05,338 near a wreck site just two miles off shore. 177 00:10:11,043 --> 00:10:13,079 This was a drug-smuggling ship, 178 00:10:14,714 --> 00:10:18,584 seized by the coast guard and sunk here 20 years ago. 179 00:10:21,253 --> 00:10:23,823 Now it’s habitat for fish of all kinds. 180 00:10:27,393 --> 00:10:30,363 And for bull sharks, a seafood buffet. 181 00:10:31,597 --> 00:10:35,868 If Big Bull is here, she would have grown close to an inch a year 182 00:10:35,935 --> 00:10:38,571 and now be an incredible ten feet in length. 183 00:10:44,710 --> 00:10:46,312 SOT: Yeah, we are on the wreck right now, yeah. 184 00:10:51,851 --> 00:10:55,488 NARRATOR: James sets up his camera to check the size of sharks. 185 00:10:55,554 --> 00:10:57,456 JAMES: I’ve got my camera rigged up with two lasers; 186 00:10:57,523 --> 00:10:59,959 that’s gonna help us measure the sharks. 187 00:11:02,395 --> 00:11:06,065 NARRATOR: Problem is, bull sharks can come in a pack. 188 00:11:09,468 --> 00:11:12,104 JAMES (off-screen): When you get more than five or six bull sharks, 189 00:11:12,171 --> 00:11:14,240 they get more of a pack mentality. 190 00:11:14,306 --> 00:11:17,143 They are an incredible predator that understands 191 00:11:17,209 --> 00:11:19,311 where our sensory systems are. 192 00:11:19,378 --> 00:11:23,949 They know how to use stealth, how to use ambush to try and 193 00:11:24,016 --> 00:11:25,084 get close to you. 194 00:11:38,831 --> 00:11:41,600 NEIL: Whoa. Look at that! 195 00:11:42,802 --> 00:11:45,871 This is some great shark habitat. 196 00:11:49,141 --> 00:11:51,377 JAMES: We’ve got a really strong current in here. 197 00:11:53,546 --> 00:11:55,247 NEIL: It’s a little dicey. 198 00:12:03,956 --> 00:12:06,459 NEIL: Lots of shark food around here. 199 00:12:16,702 --> 00:12:18,137 NEIL: We got a shark. 200 00:12:18,504 --> 00:12:19,371 There we go. 201 00:12:19,939 --> 00:12:21,140 I think that’s a bull shark. 202 00:12:21,574 --> 00:12:22,775 About thirty feet away. 203 00:12:24,009 --> 00:12:25,578 NARRATOR: It is a bull. 204 00:12:25,644 --> 00:12:26,712 And it’s not alone. 205 00:12:27,213 --> 00:12:28,514 NEIL: Watch your left! 206 00:12:29,148 --> 00:12:30,349 NARRATOR: More and more show up. 207 00:12:31,984 --> 00:12:34,320 NARRATOR: Suddenly, they’re surrounded. 208 00:12:38,457 --> 00:12:41,160 NARRATOR: Neil and James search a shipwreck for the 209 00:12:41,227 --> 00:12:44,597 megashark Big Bull, and other large bull sharks that 210 00:12:44,663 --> 00:12:46,398 may be her descendants. 211 00:12:46,465 --> 00:12:48,167 JAMES (over radio): Neil, you okay? 212 00:12:48,234 --> 00:12:49,902 NEIL (over radio): I’m good over here. 213 00:12:50,903 --> 00:12:53,305 NARRATOR: Bull sharks have a pack-like mentality and 214 00:12:53,372 --> 00:12:55,441 swarm around possible food. 215 00:12:56,909 --> 00:12:58,577 They surround the divers. 216 00:13:00,079 --> 00:13:01,881 NEIL (over radio): They’re right behind you. 217 00:13:01,947 --> 00:13:03,649 JAMES (over radio): Let’s get some cover! 218 00:13:03,716 --> 00:13:06,719 NARRATOR: Neil and James nestle into the wreck for protection. 219 00:13:06,786 --> 00:13:08,687 NEIL (over radio): Yeah, one’s on your right! 220 00:13:08,754 --> 00:13:10,890 NARRATOR: Now to get some measurements. 221 00:13:11,757 --> 00:13:14,527 JAMES (over radio): Neil, I’m gonna try and laser it. 222 00:13:14,593 --> 00:13:16,128 I’m going to get closer. 223 00:13:16,195 --> 00:13:18,998 NARRATOR: James’s two lasers work like an electronic ruler 224 00:13:19,064 --> 00:13:21,433 to confirm the size of the bulls. 225 00:13:23,469 --> 00:13:25,504 If one is close to ten feet long, 226 00:13:25,571 --> 00:13:30,810 it could be Big Bull, possibly, the largest shark alive. 227 00:13:33,946 --> 00:13:35,815 JAMES: I’ve got the laser. I’ve got it locked on. 228 00:13:36,615 --> 00:13:37,516 Laser locked on. 229 00:13:39,919 --> 00:13:41,420 JAMES: I’ve got it. I’ve got a shot. 230 00:13:42,655 --> 00:13:45,691 NARRATOR: There, multiplying the six inch-long distance of 231 00:13:45,758 --> 00:13:49,695 the lasers they estimate that this shark is young, 232 00:13:49,762 --> 00:13:52,097 from snout to the curve of the tail, 233 00:13:52,164 --> 00:13:54,300 a little over five feet long. 234 00:13:58,237 --> 00:13:59,471 But nearby. 235 00:14:00,039 --> 00:14:02,174 JAMES (over radio): There’s a big bull shark over there, 236 00:14:03,375 --> 00:14:04,977 I’m going to try to get a laser on it. 237 00:14:06,545 --> 00:14:07,379 I’ve got it. 238 00:14:08,113 --> 00:14:10,516 NARRATOR: A giant, pushing nine feet. 239 00:14:11,250 --> 00:14:14,954 Only inches smaller than Big Bull was in 2012. 240 00:14:18,123 --> 00:14:19,692 They get more measurements. 241 00:14:20,259 --> 00:14:21,227 NEIL (over radio): Awesome job. 242 00:14:22,995 --> 00:14:24,630 NARRATOR: But the strong current, 243 00:14:24,697 --> 00:14:28,200 with this many sharks, turns this dive dangerous. 244 00:14:29,535 --> 00:14:30,669 JAMES (over radio): Hey Neil, let’s head up. 245 00:14:32,638 --> 00:14:35,107 JAMES: This current is going to carry me to England otherwise. 246 00:14:36,108 --> 00:14:37,176 NEIL: I’m with ya. 247 00:14:46,752 --> 00:14:48,120 JAMES: How ‘bout that! Ah! 248 00:14:48,187 --> 00:14:50,522 NEIL: That was epic! JAMES: Loads of bull sharks. 249 00:14:51,090 --> 00:14:53,259 NEIL: Some nice sized bulls; not as big as Big Bull, 250 00:14:53,325 --> 00:14:56,095 but I feel really good about this as a good starting point 251 00:14:56,161 --> 00:14:58,030 to take the search to the next level. 252 00:14:58,731 --> 00:15:00,399 NARRATOR: They’ve confirmed bulls as large as those 253 00:15:00,466 --> 00:15:03,502 reported by local divers and fishermen. 254 00:15:05,938 --> 00:15:08,407 While they’re not quite the size of Big Bull, 255 00:15:08,474 --> 00:15:10,843 this is her territory. 256 00:15:14,780 --> 00:15:16,749 And if Neil’s theory is right, 257 00:15:17,016 --> 00:15:19,551 the sharks here may be her offspring. 258 00:15:22,688 --> 00:15:24,623 There’s one way to find out. 259 00:15:29,194 --> 00:15:30,930 When Neil encountered Big Bull, 260 00:15:31,397 --> 00:15:34,099 he collected tissue for DNA analysis. 261 00:15:34,166 --> 00:15:36,769 NEIL: Okay got it. Fresh blood sample here. 262 00:15:36,835 --> 00:15:39,338 NARRATOR: Now, they can use it to find her offspring. 263 00:15:40,839 --> 00:15:44,276 She may be the matriarch of a giant family that could 264 00:15:44,343 --> 00:15:46,679 include other super-sized bulls. 265 00:15:48,213 --> 00:15:52,785 She could have more than 100 children and countless grandchildren, 266 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,323 a hopeful sign for a declining species. 267 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:04,530 JAMES: What's exciting to me is that that bull shark was 268 00:16:04,596 --> 00:16:07,766 clearly an amazing genetic specimen. 269 00:16:07,833 --> 00:16:11,503 So now can we find out whether she's bred successfully and 270 00:16:11,570 --> 00:16:15,274 passed those genes on to other bull sharks that are in the 271 00:16:15,341 --> 00:16:17,109 coastal areas around Florida? 272 00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:20,746 NEIL: The sample from Big Bull was taken as 273 00:16:20,846 --> 00:16:23,015 part of larger population study. 274 00:16:23,082 --> 00:16:25,784 Now, I’ve sent that sample off to various collaborators to 275 00:16:25,851 --> 00:16:27,453 see what else we can learn. 276 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,358 NARRATOR: Enter shark biologist, Dr. Toby Daly-Engle. 277 00:16:32,424 --> 00:16:34,326 TOBY: Hey, how ya going? NEIL: Daly-Engle dangerous. 278 00:16:34,393 --> 00:16:35,327 TOBY: How's it going? 279 00:16:35,394 --> 00:16:37,663 NARRATOR: DNA could tell Toby if other large sharks in 280 00:16:37,730 --> 00:16:40,165 Florida are Big Bull’s babies. 281 00:16:43,736 --> 00:16:45,804 TOBY: The genetics that we're doing is basically the same 282 00:16:45,871 --> 00:16:49,808 exact process that would happen if you swabbed your 283 00:16:49,875 --> 00:16:53,512 cheek and sent it into an ancestry database. 284 00:16:54,446 --> 00:16:57,182 NARRATOR: As a first step, Neil has looked more closely 285 00:16:57,249 --> 00:16:59,985 at Big Bull’s original blood sample for clues. 286 00:17:02,354 --> 00:17:03,889 JAMES: From the blood samples you took when you caught 287 00:17:03,956 --> 00:17:06,158 Big Bull were you able to tell if she was pregnant? 288 00:17:06,225 --> 00:17:10,195 NEIL: The bad news is that she was not pregnant, based on the blood work, 289 00:17:10,262 --> 00:17:14,099 the good news is that she had recently given birth. 290 00:17:14,166 --> 00:17:15,401 JAMES: Awesome. TOBY: Wow. 291 00:17:15,467 --> 00:17:18,604 JAMES: So her offspring are potentially off the coast right now. 292 00:17:18,670 --> 00:17:21,073 TOBY: So she might have grandchildren and 293 00:17:21,140 --> 00:17:23,075 maybe even great-grandchildren. 294 00:17:23,142 --> 00:17:26,145 We can do DNA fingerprinting that will give us a 295 00:17:26,211 --> 00:17:29,581 measurement of how closely any two sharks are related. 296 00:17:32,051 --> 00:17:35,521 NARRATOR: Is Big Bull populating the coast with big babies? 297 00:17:36,221 --> 00:17:39,124 They head back out to the shipwreck, 298 00:17:39,191 --> 00:17:41,894 but this time it won’t be just to observe. 299 00:17:43,362 --> 00:17:46,331 TOBY: Our goal on this expedition is to find one of 300 00:17:46,398 --> 00:17:50,202 her relatives and that can tell us a lot about the 301 00:17:50,269 --> 00:17:54,073 life history of this shark and the entire species. 302 00:17:55,574 --> 00:17:58,110 NARRATOR: Finding her offspring may also reveal the 303 00:17:58,177 --> 00:18:02,681 size of Big Bull’s range, the importance of her role in this 304 00:18:02,748 --> 00:18:06,518 community and even if she’s still out here. 305 00:18:09,822 --> 00:18:13,092 The team will go face to face with large bulls to get samples. 306 00:18:14,693 --> 00:18:16,962 And this time, instead of blood, 307 00:18:17,029 --> 00:18:19,064 it’ll be easier to get skin. 308 00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:24,636 Shark skin is up to four inches thick in some species. 309 00:18:26,105 --> 00:18:28,640 Female shark skin, like Big Bull’s, 310 00:18:28,707 --> 00:18:31,810 is thicker than male skin so it can withstand bites 311 00:18:31,877 --> 00:18:33,512 they receive during mating. 312 00:18:35,214 --> 00:18:39,218 TOBY (off-screen): Studies have shown that in some species, 313 00:18:39,284 --> 00:18:45,290 the male tooth length corresponds to that thick skin 314 00:18:45,357 --> 00:18:47,326 in the female of the species. 315 00:18:49,061 --> 00:18:52,397 NARRATOR: They’ll easily handle a pinch from a biopsy spear. 316 00:18:53,098 --> 00:18:55,100 It’ll be like getting an ear pierced. 317 00:18:55,801 --> 00:18:58,303 But that doesn’t mean the sharks won’t react. 318 00:18:59,705 --> 00:19:02,074 TOBY: There’s a bunch of bull sharks on the surface. 319 00:19:02,141 --> 00:19:03,408 They’re right here. 320 00:19:03,475 --> 00:19:06,178 I mean, this is the chance that we’ve been waiting for. 321 00:19:07,112 --> 00:19:08,580 WOMAN: We're getting there. 322 00:19:08,647 --> 00:19:10,782 TOBY: All right so, you're gonna, I’m gonna stay on the surface, 323 00:19:10,849 --> 00:19:13,152 you’re gonna load the gun and hand it down. 324 00:19:13,218 --> 00:19:14,419 NEIL: Yep. TOBY: Okay. 325 00:19:17,556 --> 00:19:19,858 NARRATOR: They won’t need air tanks for this dive 326 00:19:19,925 --> 00:19:21,727 for one simple reason. 327 00:19:23,829 --> 00:19:27,299 The sharks are ready for them at the surface, 328 00:19:31,170 --> 00:19:32,571 too many to count. 329 00:19:35,607 --> 00:19:37,242 JAMES: Big one here. 330 00:19:40,078 --> 00:19:41,613 NARRATOR: Toby is here for science, 331 00:19:42,915 --> 00:19:45,651 but the sharks are here to eat. 332 00:19:57,396 --> 00:19:59,164 She gets a tissue sample. 333 00:19:59,898 --> 00:20:01,099 But then. 334 00:20:07,206 --> 00:20:09,374 NARRATOR: The giant shark Big Bull may be 335 00:20:09,441 --> 00:20:11,777 the largest living bull shark in the ocean. 336 00:20:13,078 --> 00:20:15,814 And she may have given rise to a new generation of bulls just 337 00:20:15,881 --> 00:20:19,218 like her, just off the coast of Florida. 338 00:20:22,020 --> 00:20:25,490 Dr. Toby Daly-Engel gets a DNA sample from a shark that could 339 00:20:25,557 --> 00:20:27,793 be one of Big Bull’s offspring. 340 00:20:30,062 --> 00:20:33,131 But something may want a piece of her as well. 341 00:20:38,036 --> 00:20:41,540 MAN: Wow, I can’t believe she did that. 342 00:20:42,874 --> 00:20:45,043 NARRATOR: The DNA expert is unharmed. 343 00:20:47,012 --> 00:20:48,747 It’s a freak occurrence. 344 00:20:49,915 --> 00:20:53,785 A mahi-mahi impaled itself on her biopsy spear. 345 00:20:55,921 --> 00:20:58,890 Now they scramble back to the boat before the fish blood 346 00:20:58,957 --> 00:21:00,225 attracts more sharks. 347 00:21:02,527 --> 00:21:05,130 Crew members take some of the fish for themselves. 348 00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:09,935 The rest goes to the sharks. 349 00:21:11,169 --> 00:21:13,372 And draws more of them even closer. 350 00:21:15,874 --> 00:21:17,876 This mission just got a shot in the arm. 351 00:21:20,746 --> 00:21:23,982 It’s more dangerous now, but the more samples they get, 352 00:21:24,049 --> 00:21:27,019 the better chance they’ll have of finding Big Bull or 353 00:21:27,085 --> 00:21:28,587 one of her offspring. 354 00:21:29,121 --> 00:21:30,722 TOBY: There’s a ton of sharks in there. 355 00:21:30,789 --> 00:21:33,625 It's the perfect opportunity to sample these animals. 356 00:21:36,495 --> 00:21:38,930 JAMES: Certainly huge bull sharks around here. 357 00:21:39,364 --> 00:21:42,334 NARRATOR: It’s a good sign for a species that’s near threatened. 358 00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:46,471 And one of the sharks looks big enough to be the queen herself. 359 00:21:49,975 --> 00:21:52,010 JAMES: There’s a really huge bull shark down here. 360 00:21:52,077 --> 00:21:53,745 JAMES: Definitely worth... NEIL: Holy shit! 361 00:21:53,812 --> 00:21:55,280 JAMES: Definitely worth getting a sample. 362 00:21:55,347 --> 00:21:57,683 NEIL: Yeah, right here. Huge. 363 00:21:59,318 --> 00:22:00,986 NARRATOR: They switch to scuba gear so 364 00:22:01,053 --> 00:22:02,654 they can stay down longer. 365 00:22:03,655 --> 00:22:04,856 NEIL: We’ve got the take all opportunities to 366 00:22:04,923 --> 00:22:06,892 get that sample, all hands-on deck. 367 00:22:12,297 --> 00:22:14,733 NEIL (over radio): Woah, tons of sharks. 368 00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:19,404 More swarming. Down below. 369 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,742 NARRATOR: These are all big bull sharks. 370 00:22:25,143 --> 00:22:27,913 But the largest is down deep. 371 00:22:30,782 --> 00:22:31,817 JAMES: Can’t get to her. 372 00:22:33,719 --> 00:22:35,454 It’s too dangerous to go down. 373 00:22:36,188 --> 00:22:37,889 Fingers crossed, she’ll come up. 374 00:22:43,962 --> 00:22:45,764 NARRATOR: They collect sample after sample. 375 00:22:47,399 --> 00:22:49,101 Any one of these younger sharks could have 376 00:22:49,167 --> 00:22:50,902 inherited Big Bull’s DNA. 377 00:22:53,672 --> 00:22:55,173 NEIL (over radio): Watch my back. 378 00:22:56,208 --> 00:22:58,577 NARRATOR: Biopsies from a dozen sharks. 379 00:23:03,849 --> 00:23:07,919 Then, finally, the largest of them comes up from the deep. 380 00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:13,625 It’s not quite Big Bull’s size. 381 00:23:14,559 --> 00:23:16,595 NEIL (over radio): I’m going for that big one. 382 00:23:16,661 --> 00:23:17,929 NARRATOR: But a healthy female. 383 00:23:24,636 --> 00:23:26,004 JAMES (over radio): That was awesome. 384 00:23:27,305 --> 00:23:29,408 NEIL: We got it! 385 00:23:34,112 --> 00:23:35,213 TOBY: We've got DNA! 386 00:23:36,882 --> 00:23:38,517 NEIL: Just got a biopsy from a bull shark. 387 00:23:39,518 --> 00:23:41,319 It is wild down there right now. 388 00:23:43,054 --> 00:23:45,791 JAMES: Yeah, maybe 15 big bull sharks it’s unbelievable. 389 00:23:46,391 --> 00:23:47,225 Excellent. 390 00:23:48,460 --> 00:23:50,962 That is definitely mission success. 391 00:23:52,998 --> 00:23:55,100 NARRATOR: Toby now has what she needs to find out if any 392 00:23:55,167 --> 00:23:57,502 of them are related to Big Bull. 393 00:24:01,773 --> 00:24:03,742 TOBY: Ooh, nice! 394 00:24:03,809 --> 00:24:06,178 So we’ve got a little bit of skin. 395 00:24:06,244 --> 00:24:08,079 That’s that black stuff that you can see. 396 00:24:08,146 --> 00:24:10,215 We can get a lot of DNA off of this. 397 00:24:13,051 --> 00:24:14,686 NARRATOR: Big Bull is not here, 398 00:24:15,253 --> 00:24:18,590 but she could have had as many as seven pups every two years 399 00:24:18,657 --> 00:24:19,991 for most of her life. 400 00:24:22,894 --> 00:24:26,164 So she may be the mother of more than 100 bull sharks. 401 00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:33,071 And she may still be out here, 40 years old, 402 00:24:33,138 --> 00:24:35,106 more than a foot longer. 403 00:24:35,173 --> 00:24:37,075 And still having pups. 404 00:24:39,611 --> 00:24:43,815 If so, Big Bull could be at a pupping ground right now. 405 00:24:45,317 --> 00:24:47,085 JAMES: Where is a good location to go and 406 00:24:47,152 --> 00:24:49,754 see if we can find her offspring? 407 00:24:49,821 --> 00:24:51,990 TOBY: Well the Indian River Lagoon is a 408 00:24:52,057 --> 00:24:54,326 hot spot for baby bull sharks. 409 00:24:54,392 --> 00:24:56,194 She could have given birth there. 410 00:24:58,296 --> 00:25:00,732 NARRATOR: While Toby heads to the lab to work on the samples, 411 00:25:02,534 --> 00:25:06,204 Neil and James head to Big Bull’s possible pupping ground, 412 00:25:07,572 --> 00:25:08,974 the Indian River Lagoon. 413 00:25:11,109 --> 00:25:13,411 Big Bull was first captured off Marathon. 414 00:25:14,646 --> 00:25:16,348 The wreck site they’ve searched is around 415 00:25:16,414 --> 00:25:18,216 three miles from Palm Beach. 416 00:25:20,085 --> 00:25:22,254 Now they head even farther north. 417 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,524 And into the estuary that is the Indian River Lagoon. 418 00:25:27,292 --> 00:25:31,296 That’s more than 200 miles, well within her range. 419 00:25:33,298 --> 00:25:36,301 All bull sharks migrate once they reach maturity. 420 00:25:38,103 --> 00:25:40,338 Bulls may go as far north as New York. 421 00:25:42,207 --> 00:25:44,943 NEIL: Even if we don’t find her here in this lagoon, 422 00:25:45,644 --> 00:25:49,147 we should find evidence she gave birth here if we capture 423 00:25:49,214 --> 00:25:52,017 a small juvenile with her DNA signature. 424 00:25:54,653 --> 00:25:57,489 NARRATOR: Few sharks would venture into this brackish lagoon. 425 00:25:59,724 --> 00:26:01,459 But bull sharks are special. 426 00:26:02,861 --> 00:26:07,532 They have adapted to live in both saltwater and freshwater. 427 00:26:10,035 --> 00:26:14,205 Pregnant females like Big Bull can travel into the Indian River Lagoon 428 00:26:14,272 --> 00:26:17,509 to give birth, away from other predatory sharks. 429 00:26:19,844 --> 00:26:22,747 It’s just feet from a residential community but 430 00:26:22,814 --> 00:26:24,416 pregnant sharks, like Big Bull, 431 00:26:25,283 --> 00:26:28,553 may return here again and again every two years. 432 00:26:33,058 --> 00:26:35,293 Neil and James join up with marine biologist, 433 00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:38,063 Dr. Matt Ajemian, to see if Big Bull, 434 00:26:38,129 --> 00:26:40,365 or her pups are here. 435 00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:42,567 MATT: Under normal conditions, 436 00:26:42,634 --> 00:26:44,502 the Indian River Lagoon can support, 437 00:26:44,569 --> 00:26:46,338 a nursery habitat for these animals, 438 00:26:46,404 --> 00:26:47,472 or so we suspect. 439 00:26:48,073 --> 00:26:50,442 NARRATOR: The goal is to get more samples, 440 00:26:50,508 --> 00:26:52,577 but the brackish water is murky. 441 00:26:53,178 --> 00:26:54,679 NEIL: I mean the water is like coffee. 442 00:26:55,046 --> 00:26:57,048 NARRATOR: It’s way too dangerous to dive. 443 00:26:58,149 --> 00:27:01,152 Neil and James come prepared with some cutting-edge tech. 444 00:27:02,654 --> 00:27:06,124 JAMES: This Remote Operated Vehicle has a 4K underwater camera, 445 00:27:06,191 --> 00:27:09,928 and it’s also got the Blueprint Subsea Oculus Sonar. 446 00:27:09,995 --> 00:27:12,831 This is military grade technology that allows us to 447 00:27:12,897 --> 00:27:15,533 see through really dark murky water, 448 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,235 for up to 100 feet. 449 00:27:17,302 --> 00:27:19,971 And that’s a game changer when you’re operating in these 450 00:27:20,038 --> 00:27:22,307 murky water conditions in the lagoon. 451 00:27:24,943 --> 00:27:27,746 NEIL: It essentially, shoots out this sound wave that 452 00:27:27,812 --> 00:27:30,048 bounces off objects, reflects back, 453 00:27:30,115 --> 00:27:31,850 and is able to form an image. 454 00:27:31,916 --> 00:27:33,251 And what I hope with this technology, 455 00:27:33,318 --> 00:27:36,855 is that we will see an SSO. 456 00:27:36,921 --> 00:27:38,189 A Shark Shaped Object! 457 00:27:47,332 --> 00:27:48,400 Can you see anything on this camera? 458 00:27:48,466 --> 00:27:50,468 JAMES: You cannot see anything through this water 459 00:27:50,535 --> 00:27:52,003 on the camera, nothing at all. 460 00:27:53,238 --> 00:27:55,273 NARRATOR: Only the sonar can see the abundance of 461 00:27:55,340 --> 00:27:56,875 potential shark food. 462 00:27:58,476 --> 00:27:59,878 It sees in the dark. 463 00:28:00,945 --> 00:28:03,348 But will it see bull shark pups? 464 00:28:04,716 --> 00:28:06,584 Or their big mammas? 465 00:28:07,385 --> 00:28:09,287 NEIL: What’s that? JAMES: There we go. There it is! 466 00:28:09,354 --> 00:28:11,790 NEIL: There’s a big shark coming in. 467 00:28:17,362 --> 00:28:19,698 NARRATOR: The enormous shark Big Bull may be 468 00:28:19,764 --> 00:28:22,367 the largest living bull shark in the ocean. 469 00:28:23,702 --> 00:28:27,706 She could have had more than 100 pups in her life time and 470 00:28:27,772 --> 00:28:30,041 she may be here in the Indian River Lagoon, 471 00:28:30,108 --> 00:28:32,077 giving birth to even more. 472 00:28:34,612 --> 00:28:37,182 NEIL: What’s that? JAMES: What do you think? 473 00:28:37,248 --> 00:28:38,083 That is big! 474 00:28:38,149 --> 00:28:40,118 NEIL: Yes yeah, and it’s moving like a shark! 475 00:28:42,020 --> 00:28:43,955 NARRATOR: Neil and James use a remote-controlled sub 476 00:28:44,022 --> 00:28:46,157 with sonar to search. 477 00:28:47,959 --> 00:28:48,960 NEIL: Shark shaped object confirmed. 478 00:28:49,027 --> 00:28:50,361 JAMES: There’s a second one coming in. 479 00:28:50,428 --> 00:28:51,730 NEIL: Yep, yep, coming in hot. 480 00:28:51,796 --> 00:28:52,831 And here’s a third one! 481 00:28:52,897 --> 00:28:53,832 JAMES: Amazing! 482 00:28:53,898 --> 00:28:54,999 NEIL: Okay, we’ve got three confirmations. 483 00:28:55,066 --> 00:28:56,000 JAMES: This is a good spot. 484 00:28:56,067 --> 00:28:58,303 NEIL: Let’s set up the drumlines here. 485 00:29:00,739 --> 00:29:04,175 NARRATOR: A new generation of supersized bulls could be here. 486 00:29:05,543 --> 00:29:08,813 And this is the same method Neil used when he 487 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,083 first captured Big Bull in 2012. 488 00:29:14,786 --> 00:29:17,155 NEIL: Whose got Shark, shark! Yeah, sharks on. 489 00:29:17,222 --> 00:29:19,491 Woah, woah, woah. Let it go. 490 00:29:19,557 --> 00:29:21,760 Watch the weight. Hold the rope. 491 00:29:21,826 --> 00:29:24,295 Watch out, just want to see its size. 492 00:29:24,996 --> 00:29:29,367 NEIL: Wow. We got a bull shark! Yes! 493 00:29:29,434 --> 00:29:30,769 NARRATOR: It’s a pup. 494 00:29:30,835 --> 00:29:32,504 Around a year old. 495 00:29:32,570 --> 00:29:35,273 Proof that this is a birthing ground. 496 00:29:37,308 --> 00:29:40,378 JAMES: We’ve got a beautiful one meter long baby bull shark. 497 00:29:40,445 --> 00:29:43,381 I’m just keeping the water going through his gills. 498 00:29:43,448 --> 00:29:44,916 Pull out here again. 499 00:29:45,683 --> 00:29:49,020 NARRATOR: Its DNA will reveal if it is one of Big Bull’s. 500 00:29:52,190 --> 00:29:56,561 If she’s still alive, Big Bull’s spawn may be all over this lagoon. 501 00:29:56,628 --> 00:29:58,830 NEIL: Perfectly adapted for this environment. 502 00:29:58,897 --> 00:30:00,632 It’s an incredible specimen, 503 00:30:00,698 --> 00:30:03,134 you can see just amazing power. 504 00:30:03,201 --> 00:30:07,305 Oh my goodness, I’ve never seen a Bull Shark this, small! 505 00:30:07,372 --> 00:30:08,206 Pretty much. 506 00:30:08,273 --> 00:30:09,374 You know, I work with the big ones and 507 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:10,642 I know it sounds kind of obvious, 508 00:30:10,708 --> 00:30:13,011 but it’s literally a miniature version of a big one! 509 00:30:13,077 --> 00:30:14,712 Just perfect! The perfect bull shark! 510 00:30:14,779 --> 00:30:15,780 WOMAN: Maybe a little chubbier. 511 00:30:15,847 --> 00:30:17,015 MAN: Yeah, well, he's healthy. 512 00:30:17,081 --> 00:30:18,516 MAN 2: Gonna take a quick weight. 513 00:30:19,083 --> 00:30:21,319 NARRATOR: PhD student Shannon Barry, 514 00:30:21,386 --> 00:30:22,821 will take it from here. 515 00:30:23,588 --> 00:30:26,457 NEIL: So will we be able to know if Big Bull came in here 516 00:30:26,524 --> 00:30:28,092 and gave birth by? 517 00:30:28,159 --> 00:30:29,761 SHANNON: Yeah, if this is one of her offspring, 518 00:30:29,828 --> 00:30:32,096 we’ll be able to tell based on her genetics. 519 00:30:32,163 --> 00:30:33,231 NEIL: Incredible. 520 00:30:33,298 --> 00:30:34,265 SHANNON: So earlier this week, 521 00:30:34,332 --> 00:30:36,134 I received the Big Bull sample. 522 00:30:36,201 --> 00:30:38,670 She was part of a larger population study, 523 00:30:38,736 --> 00:30:41,940 so, uh, specifics into her genetic sequencing 524 00:30:42,006 --> 00:30:43,274 haven’t been done yet. 525 00:30:43,341 --> 00:30:46,477 So, I’m really excited to take a look closer at that and, 526 00:30:46,544 --> 00:30:49,113 um, hopefully try to find some of her offspring. 527 00:30:50,515 --> 00:30:53,718 NARRATOR: No sign of Big Bull, but if one of these pups is 528 00:30:53,785 --> 00:30:57,255 hers it’ll show that her range covers most all 529 00:30:57,322 --> 00:30:59,157 of Florida’s southern coast. 530 00:31:00,124 --> 00:31:04,896 It’ll also prove that she was alive as recently as a year ago! 531 00:31:07,131 --> 00:31:10,535 MATT: Awesome. There he goes! 532 00:31:10,602 --> 00:31:12,704 You see his little tag? Right there, look at that. Beautiful. 533 00:31:12,770 --> 00:31:13,771 NEIL: Yeah. SHANNON: Nice. 534 00:31:13,838 --> 00:31:16,074 MATT: Awesome job guys! 535 00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:19,410 NARRATOR: They find more and more juveniles. 536 00:31:19,477 --> 00:31:20,879 MATT: That was, that was the first one. 537 00:31:20,945 --> 00:31:24,515 NARRATOR: These youngsters may live in this area for several years, 538 00:31:24,582 --> 00:31:26,584 growing strong on cat fish. 539 00:31:29,020 --> 00:31:31,055 NEIL: What a perfect specimen. 540 00:31:31,122 --> 00:31:33,157 NARRATOR: It’ll be about ten years before they 541 00:31:33,224 --> 00:31:35,360 can have pups of their own. 542 00:31:35,426 --> 00:31:38,363 SHANNON: 17.2 PCL. 543 00:31:38,963 --> 00:31:40,798 NARRATOR: Lab work will soon show if these 544 00:31:40,865 --> 00:31:42,867 sharks have Big Bull’s DNA. 545 00:31:48,206 --> 00:31:50,375 And, there’s one more lead to follow. 546 00:31:52,343 --> 00:31:54,379 To get to the size of Big Bull, 547 00:31:55,213 --> 00:31:59,684 a shark’s gotta eat, and they may have just found 548 00:31:59,751 --> 00:32:01,552 her favorite spot to hunt. 549 00:32:03,421 --> 00:32:06,724 35 miles south, outside Jupiter Inlet, 550 00:32:07,859 --> 00:32:11,129 a shark around the size of Big Bull has just been spotted 551 00:32:11,195 --> 00:32:14,966 from the air, gorging on fish. 552 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:19,771 Could it be Big Bull or one of her supersized offspring? 553 00:32:27,545 --> 00:32:30,181 NARRATOR: Neil’s colleague Dr. Steve Kajiura studies 554 00:32:30,248 --> 00:32:33,484 shark movements from 500 feet above the ocean. 555 00:32:34,519 --> 00:32:36,888 MAN (over radio): What kind of survey are you doing? 556 00:32:36,955 --> 00:32:39,557 STEVE (over radio): Uh, We’re counting sharks along the beach here. 557 00:32:39,624 --> 00:32:41,192 MAN (over radio): Oh nice. 558 00:32:44,729 --> 00:32:46,431 NARRATOR: But down below, it’s not the 559 00:32:46,497 --> 00:32:48,866 crystal clear ocean you’d expect. 560 00:32:53,137 --> 00:32:55,807 Dark clouds sprawl across the shallows. 561 00:32:57,542 --> 00:33:00,545 Look more closely, and they move. 562 00:33:02,046 --> 00:33:03,481 MAN (over radio): Wow look at that bait around the pier, 563 00:33:03,548 --> 00:33:05,416 wow that was cool. 564 00:33:05,483 --> 00:33:07,251 NARRATOR: This is the mullet run, 565 00:33:09,020 --> 00:33:12,457 millions of bait fish, and they are under attack. 566 00:33:13,591 --> 00:33:16,294 MAN (over radio): Oh, big ball of bait fish and some sharks hittin’ it. 567 00:33:16,361 --> 00:33:19,464 NARRATOR: It’s the easiest meal of the year for tarpons. 568 00:33:19,530 --> 00:33:22,367 And sharks. 569 00:33:28,172 --> 00:33:30,308 NARRATOR: There’s a feeding frenzy just outside of 570 00:33:30,375 --> 00:33:33,311 Florida’s Jupiter Inlet, the mullet run. 571 00:33:34,245 --> 00:33:37,415 Mega-shark Big Bull or her offspring might be feeding 572 00:33:37,482 --> 00:33:39,484 within it right now. 573 00:33:40,084 --> 00:33:43,788 Dr. Steve Kajiura watches this food-chain in action. 574 00:33:44,756 --> 00:33:47,091 STEVE (off-screen): When these bait fish are here in, in large numbers, 575 00:33:47,158 --> 00:33:50,495 it brings in the bigger predators like the, uh, like the sharks. 576 00:33:50,895 --> 00:33:52,864 NARRATOR: Under attack from below, 577 00:33:52,930 --> 00:33:54,298 the mullet scramble. 578 00:33:56,467 --> 00:33:59,170 Black tip sharks, and tarpons move in first. 579 00:33:59,804 --> 00:34:01,806 STEVE (over radio): We have a ball of baitfish, 580 00:34:02,407 --> 00:34:05,510 followed by more baitfish that were bisected by a... 581 00:34:05,576 --> 00:34:08,212 is that a shark or tarpon on the outside? 582 00:34:11,482 --> 00:34:12,383 NARRATOR: Then. 583 00:34:13,317 --> 00:34:14,485 STEVE (over radio): Loads of sharks down there. 584 00:34:14,552 --> 00:34:15,386 Whoa. 585 00:34:16,020 --> 00:34:17,855 NARRATOR: Bull sharks move in. 586 00:34:17,922 --> 00:34:19,057 STEVE (over radio): That’s a big shark. 587 00:34:19,123 --> 00:34:20,158 What is that? 588 00:34:20,825 --> 00:34:22,527 NARRATOR: One of them is large, 589 00:34:22,593 --> 00:34:24,395 around Big Bull’s size. 590 00:34:25,830 --> 00:34:27,999 It’s not here for the baitfish, 591 00:34:29,534 --> 00:34:31,936 it’s here to eat the other sharks. 592 00:34:35,973 --> 00:34:37,608 STEVE: You might have a bunch of baitfish that are 593 00:34:37,675 --> 00:34:39,444 attracting little black tips. 594 00:34:39,510 --> 00:34:41,546 Well, then those might be bringing in the big bull sharks 595 00:34:41,612 --> 00:34:43,448 to feed on the black tips in turn. 596 00:34:43,514 --> 00:34:45,950 And so, you've got this whole cascade that builds up, 597 00:34:46,017 --> 00:34:47,885 from just the presence of these little tiny fish 598 00:34:47,952 --> 00:34:51,022 influencing huge things like, like Big Bull. 599 00:34:52,990 --> 00:34:54,926 STEVE (over radio) Lots of sharks, lots of sharks. 600 00:34:54,992 --> 00:34:55,827 Look at that. 601 00:34:56,227 --> 00:34:57,328 That’s a big shark. 602 00:34:57,395 --> 00:34:58,963 Look, that’s not a black tip. 603 00:35:00,164 --> 00:35:01,632 A big bull shark. 604 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:05,870 NARRATOR: Steve transmits the location to James and Neil. 605 00:35:05,937 --> 00:35:08,372 STEVE (over radio): Hey Neil, I’ve got some coordinates for you. 606 00:35:09,073 --> 00:35:10,541 NARRATOR: They’ll need to move fast to catch 607 00:35:10,608 --> 00:35:12,210 the mullet run in action. 608 00:35:14,212 --> 00:35:17,215 This may be their best chance of finding Big Bull. 609 00:35:18,549 --> 00:35:21,352 Or it might prove Neil’s theory that Big Bull has 610 00:35:21,419 --> 00:35:23,788 given birth to other Big Bull sharks. 611 00:35:26,023 --> 00:35:28,092 But the skies are no longer safe. 612 00:35:29,827 --> 00:35:31,295 STEVE (over radio): I got some clouds going in 613 00:35:31,362 --> 00:35:33,231 from the, uh, northwest here. 614 00:35:34,098 --> 00:35:35,666 NARRATOR: It’s a record year for storms. 615 00:35:36,767 --> 00:35:39,437 STEVE (over radio): Hey Neil, looks like you’ve got some weather 616 00:35:39,504 --> 00:35:41,272 moving in towards you right now. 617 00:35:43,174 --> 00:35:45,009 NARRATOR: Kajiura has no choice. 618 00:35:45,076 --> 00:35:46,377 He has to land. 619 00:35:46,444 --> 00:35:48,446 MAN (over radio): Runway three to Kajiura. 620 00:35:48,513 --> 00:35:49,514 STEVE (over radio): Roger. 621 00:35:49,580 --> 00:35:52,150 MAN (over radio): Kajiura. Good land, runway 3307. 622 00:35:56,287 --> 00:35:58,289 NARRATOR: But Neil and James aren’t giving up, 623 00:35:58,789 --> 00:36:01,692 if they can find Big Bull or her pups, 624 00:36:01,759 --> 00:36:04,228 it will show hope for the species. 625 00:36:04,962 --> 00:36:06,964 JAMES (off-screen): Last night we had lightening, thunder; 626 00:36:07,031 --> 00:36:08,833 today we’ve got that on the forecast, 627 00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:11,102 so we want to get out as quickly as possible. 628 00:36:11,169 --> 00:36:12,236 NEIL (off-screen): It's not looking pretty, 629 00:36:12,303 --> 00:36:14,172 but I think it's workable and you know, 630 00:36:14,238 --> 00:36:15,506 we're just, we're running out of time. 631 00:36:15,573 --> 00:36:16,807 So we got to get out there. 632 00:36:38,296 --> 00:36:40,331 NARRATOR: After an hour of pounding they 633 00:36:40,398 --> 00:36:42,200 finally reach the location. 634 00:36:42,266 --> 00:36:44,669 JAMES: It’s been an absolute epic journey to get out 635 00:36:44,735 --> 00:36:47,071 of 10 to 12 feet swells. 636 00:36:47,438 --> 00:36:49,507 But it’s definitely worth it, we’re here now. 637 00:36:50,608 --> 00:36:52,743 NARRATOR: It’s too rough for scuba gear and 638 00:36:52,810 --> 00:36:54,478 laser measuring devices. 639 00:36:55,713 --> 00:36:58,716 They’ll free dive on the outskirts of the mullet run, 640 00:36:59,150 --> 00:37:01,786 and try to get DNA from the largest bull sharks, 641 00:37:03,688 --> 00:37:05,223 maybe Big Bull. 642 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:23,341 Big sharks. 643 00:37:23,441 --> 00:37:26,811 But here the big ones are lemon sharks. 644 00:37:30,181 --> 00:37:32,116 Lemons are formidable predators. 645 00:37:33,017 --> 00:37:35,953 They’re assertive and outnumber the bulls. 646 00:37:36,020 --> 00:37:38,055 But nowhere near as deadly and not what 647 00:37:38,122 --> 00:37:39,690 Neil and James are after. 648 00:37:42,426 --> 00:37:43,294 Then. 649 00:37:44,528 --> 00:37:45,363 Bulls. 650 00:37:47,131 --> 00:37:48,733 Two big ones. 651 00:37:51,502 --> 00:37:53,204 One comes in fast. 652 00:37:58,476 --> 00:38:00,311 Neil has his probe in position, 653 00:38:02,380 --> 00:38:04,215 but he must wait for the right moment. 654 00:38:10,621 --> 00:38:11,555 Bull’s eye! 655 00:38:12,023 --> 00:38:13,924 JAMES (over radio): Nice shot! 656 00:38:13,991 --> 00:38:15,226 NARRATOR: One down. 657 00:38:15,293 --> 00:38:18,062 But they also want a sample from the second larger shark. 658 00:38:22,099 --> 00:38:26,937 It could even be the queen of bull sharks herself, Big Bull. 659 00:38:31,075 --> 00:38:33,144 NARRATOR: But a gang of lemon sharks moves in. 660 00:38:36,180 --> 00:38:38,482 And one of them locks in on James. 661 00:38:50,561 --> 00:38:52,830 NARRATOR: Neil and James want a biopsy from a shark down 662 00:38:52,897 --> 00:38:55,366 below that may be Big Bull, 663 00:38:56,500 --> 00:38:59,370 possibly the largest bull shark in the ocean. 664 00:39:02,006 --> 00:39:04,842 But a swarm of aggressive lemon sharks pins them down. 665 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:12,216 One of them sees James as a target. 666 00:39:22,393 --> 00:39:23,928 James deflects an attack. 667 00:39:26,030 --> 00:39:27,798 And covers their retreat. 668 00:39:37,074 --> 00:39:38,409 JAMES: I think that’s enough for now. 669 00:39:38,476 --> 00:39:41,779 The lemons are getting way too intense. 670 00:39:41,846 --> 00:39:43,948 I think someone’s going to get bit at some point. 671 00:39:44,014 --> 00:39:45,483 My camera certainly did. 672 00:39:57,094 --> 00:39:59,296 NEIL: We’re super lucky that we got one biopsy because 673 00:39:59,363 --> 00:40:02,533 those bulls were staying deep and any time they came kind of 674 00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:04,969 close the lemons would charge. 675 00:40:08,572 --> 00:40:10,174 NARRATOR: It’s just too dangerous. 676 00:40:10,775 --> 00:40:12,176 They decide to call it. 677 00:40:13,277 --> 00:40:16,647 But Toby has been working on the DNA they already collected. 678 00:40:17,281 --> 00:40:18,749 And she has results. 679 00:40:20,217 --> 00:40:23,020 Was Big Bull just a freakish anomaly? 680 00:40:23,387 --> 00:40:27,158 Or has she given rise to a new generation of giants up and 681 00:40:27,224 --> 00:40:28,993 down the Florida coast? 682 00:40:33,330 --> 00:40:36,200 TOBY: We pretty much expected to get nothing, right, 683 00:40:36,267 --> 00:40:39,603 I mean finding two related sharks should be 684 00:40:39,670 --> 00:40:41,405 like a needle in a haystack. 685 00:40:41,472 --> 00:40:43,674 NEIL: Like a huge ocean haystack. 686 00:40:43,741 --> 00:40:48,913 TOBY: Huge haystack, and not only did we find offspring 687 00:40:48,979 --> 00:40:52,016 we found three offspring of Big Bull. 688 00:40:52,082 --> 00:40:53,384 NEIL: Are you kidding me? 689 00:40:53,451 --> 00:40:54,785 JAMES: That’s and amazing story, that’s good news. 690 00:40:54,852 --> 00:40:55,686 TOBY: Yeah. 691 00:40:56,287 --> 00:40:59,290 JAMES: So her offspring are potentially off the coast somewhere now. 692 00:40:59,356 --> 00:41:02,626 TOBY: Not potentially, they’re definitely there. 693 00:41:05,029 --> 00:41:08,098 NARRATOR: The big question is where were they found? 694 00:41:08,799 --> 00:41:11,202 Is Big Bull having pups in just one area, 695 00:41:11,268 --> 00:41:14,104 or spreading her DNA all over Florida? 696 00:41:16,240 --> 00:41:17,641 NEIL: Where were these offspring? 697 00:41:17,708 --> 00:41:19,210 TOBY: Well a couple of different places, 698 00:41:19,276 --> 00:41:21,645 so we actually got one at the shipwreck. 699 00:41:22,947 --> 00:41:24,682 NEIL: No kidding that’s deep water, 700 00:41:24,748 --> 00:41:26,283 I mean those were some big sharks. 701 00:41:26,350 --> 00:41:28,652 TOBY: Yeah, those were not baby sharks. 702 00:41:28,719 --> 00:41:30,754 NARRATOR: The sharks they sampled at the wreck were 703 00:41:30,821 --> 00:41:32,623 around ten years old. 704 00:41:33,624 --> 00:41:35,392 They could even be from the litter Big Bull had 705 00:41:35,459 --> 00:41:39,230 just before her original capture in 2012. 706 00:41:41,432 --> 00:41:45,903 TOBY: The second sample came from Indian River Lagoon. 707 00:41:47,171 --> 00:41:49,006 NEIL: From one of the small sharks that we sampled? 708 00:41:49,073 --> 00:41:51,041 That’s insane. 709 00:41:51,108 --> 00:41:51,942 TOBY: I know. 710 00:41:52,009 --> 00:41:55,079 I ran this data about 100 times because I, I thought 711 00:41:55,145 --> 00:41:56,480 I had to be wrong. 712 00:41:58,616 --> 00:42:00,184 NARRATOR: This is the pup. 713 00:42:00,251 --> 00:42:02,786 WOMAN: Aw, he has a tiny little mouth. 714 00:42:02,853 --> 00:42:04,288 NARRATOR: Just a year old. 715 00:42:04,355 --> 00:42:06,056 NEIL: It’s an incredible specimen. 716 00:42:06,724 --> 00:42:08,492 NARRATOR: And from Big Bull herself, 717 00:42:10,094 --> 00:42:14,932 which means it’s likely Big Bull is still out there. 718 00:42:14,999 --> 00:42:16,967 NEIL: This blows my mind. 719 00:42:17,034 --> 00:42:22,172 I never expected to be able to actually identify offspring of Big Bull 720 00:42:22,239 --> 00:42:26,076 suggesting that she’s still not only alive but reproducing. 721 00:42:26,143 --> 00:42:27,444 Where else? 722 00:42:27,711 --> 00:42:31,715 TOBY: Well the third offspring was one of the big sharks that 723 00:42:31,782 --> 00:42:33,584 was following the mullet run. 724 00:42:33,651 --> 00:42:34,652 NEIL: That’s amazing. 725 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:39,256 NARRATOR: Four locations off the Florida coast, 726 00:42:39,323 --> 00:42:41,325 from Marathon where she was captured, 727 00:42:41,992 --> 00:42:44,595 to the wreck site, to the mullet run area, 728 00:42:44,662 --> 00:42:47,398 and all the way up to the Indian River Lagoon, 729 00:42:48,265 --> 00:42:50,834 at least a 200-mile range. 730 00:42:51,569 --> 00:42:53,938 TOBY: The fact that we are finding her offspring in these 731 00:42:54,004 --> 00:42:58,375 different places shows that she represents an important 732 00:42:58,442 --> 00:43:02,046 biological linkage between these different habitats. 733 00:43:02,112 --> 00:43:03,180 NEIL: Incredible. 734 00:43:03,247 --> 00:43:04,315 JAMES: So given that. 735 00:43:04,381 --> 00:43:07,217 She’s potentially had many children over her life time. 736 00:43:07,284 --> 00:43:09,954 TOBY: Yeah, she may have grandchildren or even 737 00:43:10,020 --> 00:43:12,156 great grandchildren out there somewhere. 738 00:43:12,723 --> 00:43:13,791 JAMES: Awesome. 739 00:43:15,659 --> 00:43:18,095 NARRATOR: There’s no sign yet that Big Bull’s offspring are 740 00:43:18,162 --> 00:43:19,797 any bigger than normal. 741 00:43:20,798 --> 00:43:22,333 But there’s a lot of them. 742 00:43:22,399 --> 00:43:26,403 And with any luck they’ll have inherited her knack for survival. 743 00:43:27,605 --> 00:43:30,107 She also may still be out there. 744 00:43:30,541 --> 00:43:33,477 And a important matriarch of an enormous family. 745 00:43:34,044 --> 00:43:35,779 NEIL: Encountering such a large shark, 746 00:43:36,213 --> 00:43:38,882 for me, is actually a sign of hope. 747 00:43:39,883 --> 00:43:44,288 It means that this animal was able to make it past all 748 00:43:44,355 --> 00:43:47,257 the threats and grow to be this size. 749 00:43:47,324 --> 00:43:49,860 It also means there are likely other big Bull Sharks 750 00:43:49,927 --> 00:43:52,129 that are still out there yet to be discovered. 751 00:43:53,797 --> 00:43:56,767 NARRATOR: Neil may never see Big Bull again, 752 00:43:56,834 --> 00:43:58,769 but he has swum with her children. 753 00:43:59,370 --> 00:44:02,406 They have her DNA, and given time, 754 00:44:02,573 --> 00:44:05,309 one of them may also claim the title of 755 00:44:05,376 --> 00:44:08,379 the world’s biggest bull shark! 756 00:44:08,445 --> 00:44:09,580 Captioned by Cotter Media Group.