Quck answer
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 40 feet and weights of more than 20 tons. Despite their size, they are gentle giants that feed primarily on plankton. They use their enormous mouths to filter huge amounts of water, trapping plankton and small fish inside. Whale sharks are also able to regulate their body temperature, maintain buoyancy, and navigate using a special organ called the ampullae of Lorenzini. Despite their size and impressive characteristics, whale sharks are currently listed as vulnerable due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these magnificent creatures.
Wildlife
Swimming with Whale Sharks
Divers enjoy swimming alongside a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) at the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, in the company of other marine creatures.
Jeff Rotman/Getty Images
There is no doubt that the whale shark is a beloved creature. It is the largest fish in the ocean, and its gentle nature makes it all the more endearing to humans. Despite its size, the whale shark poses no threat to people, and it is one of the most popular species on display at the Georgia Aquarium.
Given the human fascination with this enormous fish, it is no surprise that people are eager to get up close and personal with it. Scuba diving and snorkeling with whale sharks has become a popular activity in the eco-tourism and adventure travel industry. The Ningaloo Reef, located off the west coast of Australia, and Donsol, a small fishing town in the Philippines, are two of the most popular destinations for swimming with whale sharks. During feeding season from January to June each year, whale sharks converge on Donsol’s plankton-rich waters, and tourists come from all over the world to swim with them. What started as a word-of-mouth attraction has grown into a massive tourism industry, with more than 7,500 tourists visiting Donsol in 2005 alone.
However, this growth has not come without challenges. The bridge leading to the boats that take tourists out to see the whale sharks can only accommodate one car at a time, making it difficult to manage large numbers of visitors. To keep the tourist industry under control, the government of Donsol has reduced the number of boats allowed on the water at any given time, from 50 to 25. Despite these challenges, the town benefits from the tourism boom, with new seasonal jobs and plans for further development.
To learn more about sharks and other marine life, check out the links below.
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
- How Sharks Work
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- How Scuba Works
- How the Georgia Aquarium Works
- How Bioluminescence Works
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- 15 Tips for Surviving a Shark Attack
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- How Tiger Sharks Work
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- Shark Quiz
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More Great Links
- MarineBio.org
- Shark Research Institute
- Sharks (Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department)
- International Shark Attack File
- Georgia Aquarium
Sources
A list of articles about whale sharks is provided, including sources such as CNN, dive-the-world.com, and panda.org. The articles cover topics such as overfishing in the Philippines, the characteristics of whale sharks, and their popularity as a tourist attraction. One article discusses the use of a star search program to track whale sharks, while another focuses on a controversy surrounding the end of a whale shark’s odyssey. Overall, the articles offer a variety of perspectives and information about these harmless giants of the sea.
FAQ
1. What is a whale shark?
A whale shark is the largest fish in the world, growing up to 40 feet long and weighing up to 20 tons. Despite its name, it is not a whale, but a shark. It has a flattened head and a wide mouth, which it uses to filter feed on plankton and small fish.
2. Where do whale sharks live?
Whale sharks are found in warm waters around the world, mainly in the tropics. They are known to frequent areas such as the Maldives, the Philippines, Mexico, and Australia.
3. How do whale sharks breathe?
Whale sharks breathe through their gills, taking in oxygen from the water. They are able to hold their breath for short periods of time, but they do not have lungs like mammals do.
4. How do whale sharks reproduce?
Whale sharks are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs. However, little is known about their reproductive habits, as they are difficult to study in the wild.
5. How long do whale sharks live?
The lifespan of whale sharks is not well understood, but they are believed to live for several decades. One whale shark in captivity lived for 18 years, and individuals in the wild have been observed for up to 70 years.
6. Are whale sharks endangered?
Whale sharks are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are threatened by overfishing, accidental capture in fishing nets, and habitat destruction.
7. How do whale sharks communicate?
Whale sharks do not have vocal cords, so they cannot communicate through sound. However, they are believed to use body language and chemical signals to communicate with each other.
8. How do whale sharks move?
Whale sharks are slow swimmers, typically moving at a speed of 3-5 miles per hour. They use their powerful tails to propel themselves through the water.
9. How do whale sharks feed?
Whale sharks feed by swimming with their mouths open, filtering plankton and small fish through their gills. They are able to process up to 1,500 gallons of water per hour.
10. Are whale sharks dangerous?
Whale sharks are not considered dangerous to humans. They are gentle giants and rarely pose a threat to swimmers or divers. However, it is important to respect their space and not to disturb them while they are feeding or resting.
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