Walking sharks are the talk of the town as the discovery of a new species in Papua New Guinea, paired with a record-breaking population boom in protected Indonesian waters, highlights how much we still have to learn about these unique creatures and underscores the urgent need for their protection.

Walking sharks are small, predominantly nocturnal, benthic sharks that typically reach total lengths of 70-80 cm, with the largest reported at 107 cm.

They are commonly found in shallow coastal habitats, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves, usually at depths less than 10m, but have been recorded as deep as 50m.

In a study published on June 15 in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, scientists officially introduced the world to the Dudgeon’s epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium dudgeonae). 

Discovered during marine surveys between 2023 and 2025 in Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay province, this new species is the tenth member of the unique Papua New Guinean epaulette genus. It is also already at risk of extinction.

Named after Dr. Christine Dudgeon of the University of the Sunshine Coast, the small shark is distinguished by a striking pattern of brown freckles, white spots, and a prominent eye-like marking behind its head.

“New shark species don’t come along that often, and it’s most definitely the first one named after me,” Dr Dudgeon said.

However, the celebration comes with a heavy dose of caution. Because walking sharks have extremely restricted home ranges, often spanning only a few hundred square metres, and lay immobile egg cases on the sea floor, they are highly susceptible to localised threats. 

Researchers are already scrambling to gather data for the IUCN Red List to categorise the new species as Threatened or Endangered.

Of the ten known species in the genus, five are already listed as ‘Threatened with Extinction.’

While the newly discovered Dudgeon’s epaulette shark faces an uncertain future, a concurrent study published on June 24, 2026, in Frontiers in Fish Science provides definitive proof that robust conservation policies work.

In the Dampier Strait of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, researchers monitoring the Raja Ampat walking shark recorded the highest population density ever documented for the genus worldwide. In the waters off Sawinggrai Village, densities reached a staggering 2,462 sharks per square kilometre.

This population boom comes just three years after the Indonesian government granted the species full legal protection in 2023.

During the study, researchers logged 1,191 sightings, identifying 736 unique individuals.

The maximum distance any single shark moved during the study was just 475 metres, with no movement between islands.

Juveniles heavily rely on coral reefs, with 69% found there, while adults transition to seagrass beds and sand flats.

The contrast between the two studies highlights an important reality: walking sharks are incredibly vulnerable due to their limited mobility, but they respond spectacularly well to habitat protection.

“Their strong attachment to coastal and shallow-water habitats makes them vulnerable to local disturbances such as coastal development and pollution,” said Dr Edy Setyawan, Lead Conservation Scientist from the Elasmobranch Institute Indonesia. 

He noted that the data will ensure protective measures are: “Truly effective on the ground and not merely policies on paper.”

Local indigenous communities have been the secret weapon in this conservation success. In Raja Ampat, local villagers walked the reefs at low tide alongside scientists to gather data.

“For us, this shark is not just a rare animal that needs protection. They are neighbours that live in our front yard,” said Ronald Mambrasar, an Arborek Village resident and shark monitor. 

“Seeing scientific data that proves their population is healthy fills us with pride,” he added.

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