International Whale Shark Day on August 30 celebrates whale sharks and their epicness. The humongous fish happens to be the largest shark species on the planet, growing as much as 60 feet from the time of its birth.
We’re lucky that in the South Pacific we can swim with whale sharks. Found in tropical oceans around the world, each year from April to July, they gather at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Check out our page on Whale Sharks to learn more about these amazing creatures and how you can join a whale watching trip.
International Whale Shark Day on August 30 celebrates whale sharks and their epicness. The humongous fish happens to be the largest shark species on the planet, growing as much as 60 feet from the time of its birth.
The whale shark is known for its slow and gentle behavior. It usually prefers to swim in shallow depths, but it is also found in waters as deep as 3,000 feet. Due to such factors, whale sharks are extremely easy to fish.
People have been using them for their meat and fins. The whale shark market has led to at least a 50% decrease in the fish’s population. This is an alarming situation and the giant has now been placed on the endangered species list. The declining numbers also mean that the general marine environment is in danger too due to the threat of large numbers of plankton, which are one of the primary food sources for whale sharks.
You can support Whale Shark research by donating to ECOCEAN >>>
For more information on International Whale Shark day >>
