Mystery of Volcanic Sharks: Unveiling Their Survival Secrets

For ten years, marine researchers have been puzzled by the appearance of mutant sharks in the depths of 'Kavachi' volcano, located in Papua New Guinea.

This volcano has experienced over 24 eruptions within just three years. When researchers investigated why it tends to erupt so frequently, they discovered mutant sharks living at its base—an exceptionally aggressive species capable of surviving in these nearly impossible living conditions.

One of the researchers, Brennan Phillips, captured footage for National Geographic, stating that despite the frequent eruptions, it shouldn't be possible for any form of life to exist there.

Are Sharks Awaiting Their Fate at the Volcano's Base?

Herein lies the surprise:

"This discovery surprised every scientist and raised many questions, considering the immediate danger at any given moment. Why would a creature choose to live where it might die at any moment from toxic, murky waters?" Brennan remarked in the video. He speculated that this raises questions such as whether the sharks sense an eruption before it happens and leave the volcano beforehand or if the volcano itself forms some 'interaction' with them, signaling in some way that it is about to erupt. "There’s also the possibility that they are simply awaiting their fate at the volcano..."

A special team led by Brennan spent a decade researching this mystery and recently returned with intriguing answers, showcased in the National Geographic video 'Volcano Sharks.'

According to the researchers, the sharks currently living beneath the volcano have undergone some evolutionary process, allowing them to survive the acidic environment. Marine researcher Dr. Michael Heithaus, who studied another volcano on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, also found sharks residing beneath the active volcano, noting "when they sense an eruption, they immediately leave the volcano. Sharks have all our senses plus one we don’t—they can detect electric fields emitted by every living creature. Volcanic lava containing iron forms a magnetic field. Sharks identify these fields and use them for navigation."