Carlos Gauna, a filmmaker and professional photographer, has made an intriguing discovery about great white sharks and their interaction with drones. Through his YouTube channel, The Malibu Artist, Gauna shared drone footage showcasing how these sharks respond to the shadow created by the flying device. Although the sharks do not appear to be aware of the drone itself, they show a strong response to its shadow, similar to how a cat might react to a laser pointer. This behavior indicates the sharks’ acute visual awareness and raises questions about their perception of the world.
Gauna’s investigation revealed that the sharks reacted to the drone’s shadow from different angles, suggesting a high level of visual awareness. Whenever a shark spotted the shadow, it would give chase, demonstrating their interest in this phenomenon. However, the extent of their perception, especially regarding shadows above them, remains partially understood. Gauna plans to apply these insights to future drone flights by minimizing interference, particularly by being conscious of the drone’s shadow.
The article takes a neutral approach, focusing on Carlos Gauna’s observations and experiments related to animal behavior and drone technology. It avoids expressing personal opinions or biases, presenting the facts in a straightforward and factual manner. It contains no political slant, making it 95% likely to be factual news based on my current analysis.
[Source: petapixel.com article by Carlos Gauna, “Great White Shark Chases Drone’s Shadow the Way Cats Chase Lasers” (October 3, 2023)]
