Whale Shark

The whale shark is the biggest fish and shark in the world. These gentle marine giants roam the oceans around the globe, generally alone. However, large numbers of whale sharks often gather in areas with abundant plankton food—making them prime tourist attractions. The distribution of whale sharks indicates the presence of plankton and the overall health of our oceans.

Demand for their meat, fins and oil remains a threat to the species, particularly by unregulated fisheries. Whale shark tourism presents a threat to the species as it can interrupt their feeding and sharks can be injured by boat propellers. There is currently no robust estimate of the global whale shark population.

You can help save the Whale Shark by donating to the WWF: