Danny, a great white shark first identified in 2014 and tracked since 2019, has been found dead in Canadian waters. He was tagged by Dr. Greg Skomal and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, and his acoustic 'pings' traced movements from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia and down to Georgia. A necropsy is underway in Canada to determine cause of death and collect tissue samples that will deepen scientific understanding and aid conservation planning.
Beloved Great White 'Danny' Found Dead in Canada — Six Years of Tracking Yield Vital Conservation Data
Danny, a great white shark first identified in 2014 and tracked since 2019, has been found dead in Canadian waters. He was tagged by Dr. Greg Skomal and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, and his acoustic 'pings' traced movements from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia and down to Georgia. A necropsy is underway in Canada to determine cause of death and collect tissue samples that will deepen scientific understanding and aid conservation planning.
10:57 AM, 11/14/2025Environment
Beloved Great White 'Danny' Found Dead in Canada
A well-known great white shark nicknamed Danny has been found deceased off the coast of Canada. First identified by researchers in 2014, Danny was fitted with telemetry tags in 2019 by marine biologist Dr. Greg Skomal in collaboration with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC). For six years his movements across the Northwest Atlantic provided valuable data for scientists and captured public interest.
Danny spent much of his time near the shores of Cape Cod, but his acoustic 'pings' were recorded as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as Georgia. Those recordings helped researchers map migration routes, seasonal movements, and behavior patterns that are critical to understanding great white life history and population connectivity.
A team in Canada has begun a formal necropsy to determine Danny's cause of death and to collect biological samples. Tissue and organ samples taken during the necropsy will be analyzed to provide additional insights into health, diet, age, and possible human or environmental impacts.
Why this matters
The combination of long-term telemetry and new biological samples will strengthen conservation planning for great whites across the Atlantic. AWSC officials say the data collected from Danny over the past six years will continue to inform protective measures, research priorities, and public outreach efforts.
Legacy: Danny's tracking record demonstrates how long-term monitoring can both engage the public and supply science-based evidence for species conservation.
Researchers expect to release findings from the necropsy once analyses are complete. Until then, Danny’s contributions to shark science remain an important legacy for the conservation community.