A globally endangered leopard shark filmed by a baited underwater camera off the Samoan island of Apolima is the first verifiable evidence that the species lives in Samoa's waters, according to scientists with National Geographic Pristine Seas. The shark swam directly in front of the camera at a depth of about 16 metres (roughly 52 feet) during an expedition surveying the country's newly protected ocean areas, Discover Wildlife reported.

The footage was recorded in mid-August and announced locally at the time before drawing international attention this week. Older checklists and databases had suggested the shark occurs in Samoa, but Pristine Seas scientist Jett Walker said those reports lacked independently verifiable evidence such as photographs, video or a specimen.

A confirmed record matters for conservation planning. Samoa's marine spatial plan took effect this year and protects 30% of the country's ocean, and knowing which threatened species use those waters helps managers decide where protection will do the most good.

Baited Cameras and a Verified Sighting

The team used baited remote underwater video systems, known as BRUVS. Walker told Discover Wildlife that the units are left on the seabed to record marine wildlife for an hour at a time, capturing footage without divers present. He added that a single camera deployment can reveal something entirely unexpected and add an important piece to scientists' understanding of a species' distribution. Each unit pairs a camera with bait that draws in nearby fish and sharks, creating a standardized record researchers can review and compare across sites.

Walker told Samoa News in August that the recording was the first clear photographic and video evidence confirming the species' presence in Samoa, and that leopard sharks are rarely documented in that part of the Pacific.

The sighting came during a four-week expedition that began in early August, run at the invitation of and in partnership with Samoa's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. According to National Geographic, the survey supports the country's protection of 30% of its ocean, roughly 36,000 square kilometres, in waters home to nearly 1,000 recorded marine species.

One Shark, Several Names

The naming can be confusing. The species is Stegostoma tigrinum, often called the zebra shark because juveniles have bold stripes, while adults develop the leopard-like spots that give it its other common name. Both names refer to the same tropical Indo-Pacific reef shark, which spends much of the day resting on the seafloor and feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish.

For U.S. readers, there is another wrinkle. The leopard shark familiar to Californians and to West Coast aquarium visitors is a different animal entirely, Triakis semifasciata, a houndshark found along the Pacific coast of North America. The two species are not closely related and do not share a range.

An Endangered Species with a Patchy Range

The IUCN Red List classifies Stegostoma tigrinum as Endangered. The species is heavily fished across much of its range, and coastal fishing pressure is the main driver of its decline.

Presence on a map does not guarantee healthy numbers. In parts of Southeast Asia the species has declined sharply, and conservation groups have turned to captive breeding and release, including an effort that has returned young zebra sharks to Indonesian reefs.

A single sighting does not reveal how many leopard sharks live around Samoa, whether they breed there, or how the population is changing. It confirms presence at one location and depth. Establishing abundance would require repeated surveys over time, which is the kind of baseline Samoa's new marine plan is meant to support.

Next Steps for Samoa's Protected Waters

Data from the Samoa expedition are expected to feed into monitoring of the country's marine spatial plan, which the government has described as providing a baseline for long-term management. Footage from the full set of camera deployments is still being reviewed, so additional species records could emerge, a common outcome of large baited-camera surveys.

Leopard sharks are generally considered harmless to people, and divers who encounter one should keep their distance, avoid touching or feeding it, and follow local marine protected area rules. Travellers planning dives in Samoa or nearby American Samoa can support conservation by choosing operators that follow wildlife guidelines and by reporting sightings with photographs to local authorities or researchers.

For Americans, the region is closer than it may seem. American Samoa, a U.S. territory, lies just east of Samoa and includes a national marine sanctuary, so confirmed records in neighbouring waters are relevant to how U.S. managers think about shared reef species.

A baited camera near Apolima produced the first verifiable record of the endangered leopard shark in Samoa's waters. It confirms the species' presence but not its numbers, and the next step is sustained monitoring inside Samoa's newly protected ocean areas.

What Readers Want to Know

What did scientists find off Samoa?

A baited underwater camera filmed an endangered leopard shark near Apolima Island at about 16 metres deep, the first verifiable evidence the species lives in Samoan waters.

When was the shark filmed?

During a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition in August 2026. It was announced locally that month and reported internationally in late September.

Is a leopard shark the same as a zebra shark?

Yes. Stegostoma tigrinum is called both, because juveniles are striped and adults are spotted. It is different from the California leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata.

How endangered is the species?

The IUCN Red List classifies it as Endangered, largely because of coastal fishing pressure across its range.

Are leopard sharks dangerous to people?

They are generally considered harmless. Divers should still keep their distance and never touch or feed them.

What are BRUVS?

Baited remote underwater video systems are cameras paired with bait and left on the seabed, often for about an hour, to record wildlife without divers present.