This includes whale shark meat and shark fin soup. Here are a few ways you can help protect them:ĭon’t purchase whale shark or shark products. One way to help protect whale sharks from extinction is to not purchase whale shark products. Prefer to watch and learn about whale sharks? Check out this beautiful 2 minute National Geographic video below: Want to be a Whale Shark Researcher for a Day? How can you help protect whale sharks from extinction? Wait, there is more! Click here to learn about the current threats to shark populations
The changing climates lead to a loss in their prey species, and the development of coastal regions creates marine pollution which takes away large portions of their habitat. Habitat Loss & Climate ChangeĬlimate change has impacted many species in the world, and whale sharks are no exception.
In traditional Chinese medicine, whale shark parts including their fins are often used, which is one of their biggest threats. They face a negative impact from humans through irresponsible tourism practices, fishing, as well as injuries from boating and ocean recreation. Female whale sharks can give birth to up to 300 pups, but only 1 in 10 are expected to survive and in turn reach maturity. There are several factors that lead to this, including: BiologyĪlthough they live relatively long lives of more than 70 years, they reach maturity late in life and produce a low rate of offspring throughout their lives. To learn about their incredible ‘Whale Shark Researcher for a Day’ itinerary, click here.Īre whale sharks endangered and what threats do they face?Īccording to the IUCN Red List, they are listed as endangered as their population is decreasing. RED Travel Mexico, an award-winning social enterprise that leads to responsible learning expeditions around Whale S This map outlines the regions you can find them in the wild:Ĭheck out these tours that offer the opportunity to see whale sharks responsibly: They often congregate in areas they can feed, which is sometimes makes for a very long migration.Ĭommon places you can visit this shark species are Mexico, Belize, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Australia, the Galapagos, South Africa, Mozambique, Honduras, Seychelles, and India. They prefer surface seawater temperatures between 21 – 25☌ (69 – 77☏) in both oceanic and coastal waters. Whale sharks are found in the waters of more than 100 countries, most broadly found in the latitudes of 30°N and 35°S in warm and tropical temperate seas. Where can you go to find them in the wild? They do not have natural predators, other than humans. The greatest threat to sharks is the loss of prey largely due to climate change, habitat disturbance, and ocean pollution. The females can have up to 300 shark pups at one time.
The best way to tell the difference between a male and female whale shark is that the males have two claspers near their pelvic fin.Īs a species, they do not become sexually mature until they are 30 years. They have enormous mouths that can reach a width of 1 meter (more than 3 feet). The pattern of spots around their gill area is unique to each individual which allows for easier identification. They have a naturally calm demeanor, which is popular with eco-tourists that want to snorkel beside them. Their appearance is incredible not only because they are so large, but also because they have a unique pattern of white spots that cover its body. They can reach up to 12 meters or 40 feet in lengthīut feed on some of the smallest organisms in the ocean called plankton. Whale sharks are considered to be harmless to humans despite their enormous size. A whale shark can have up to 3000 teeth at once and between 300 and 350 rows of teeth. Only 3 species of sharks are filter feeders including whale sharks, basking sharks, and megamouth sharks. They are gentle giants and as filter feeders, they eat through filters in their mouths. A common question asked is “How many bones does a whale shark have?” and the answer is none! The criteria of Chondrichthyes is that they have a skeleton made up of cartilage, rather than bone. The whale shark belongs to a group called Chondrichthyes, which includes other sea life like sharks, skates, and rays.
0 kommentar(er)
