The fishermen have stopped fishing and turned to tourism, feeding whale sharks tiny amounts of krill to draw them closer to shore so tourists can snorkel or dive with them.
Whale Shark Festival kicks off in Isla Mujeres
The Isla Mujeres Department of Tourism, along with ecotourism company and international sponsor Ceviche Tours, have released the schedule of events for the 12th annual Whale Shark Festival, which will be held from July 26-28 2019 in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Last year thousands of people attended the family-friendly event, where guests can swim with whale […]
New documentary reveals nomadic life of whale sharks
A new documentary hosted by Jessica Harvey, daughter of renowned ocean conservationist Guy Harvey, is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime. “This is Their Ocean: Sea of Life” follows the path of two male whale sharks “Milo” and “Lucho” after they were tagged with a satellite tracking devices last summer near Isla Mujeres. The […]
SharkoFiles: Whale Shark
The whale shark, despite its name is not actually a whale, but shark, hence it is not a mammal but fish. It is regarded as the largest fish in the ocean reaching to about 40 feet in length. In spite of the large size of this shark, it is known to feed upon tiny plants […]
Whale sharks may eat plants, according to new study
Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, likely endure periods of starvation and may eat more plants than previously thought, according to the first results of a new health check developed at the University of Tokyo. Ocean scientists now have a powerful, simple tool to discover the diets, migrations, and conservation needs of this endangered species. […]
Gigantic shark species a result of evolutionary adaptation
A news study from Swansea University found that for a species of shark to become giant, it would need to first evolve adaptations that enhance feeding. This includes its ability to control body temperature or become a filter feeder. Swansea University’s Dr. Catalina Pimiento and associates examined the biological traits of all elasmobranchs and ran a […]
Study: Whale sharks can live up to 130 years
We know very little about the growth and reproductive biology of whale sharks, the world’s largest fish species. Because they’re listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, scientists are looking for ways to fill this gap in our knowledge without overly disturbing or distressing individual whale sharks. Scientists at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in […]
Madagascar a playground for young whale sharks
By Nora Ward, Mongabay.com Whale sharks don’t need help being spectacular. The world’s biggest fish is impressive in nearly every aspect, growing as long as 12 meters (40 feet) and weighing up to 21 tons. Their enormous mouths contain thousands of teeth, and their backs feature constellations of white spots that make them look like […]
Whale shark study reveals new insights on lifespan
A long-term study has revealed that whale sharks, the largest fish on the planet can live upwards of 130 years. Researchers from Nova Southeastern University’s Guy Harvey Research Institute and the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme published their findings on whale shark aging growth dynamics in the latest Marine and Freshwater Research Journal. The ten year study was […]
Philippines play vital role for whale sharks
A comprehensive tracking study of juvenile whale sharks show the importance of the Philippine archipelago in their migration patterns through Indo-Pacific waters. Researchers from Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Marine Megafauna Foundation and Tubbataha Management Office attached Wildlife Computers SPOT5 satellite tags to juvenile whale sharks to follow the movements in near real-time to […]