Animal Life - Whale Shark Day
They're slow moving filter feeders, hence the whale name. They have 300 rows of tiny teeth and 20 filter pads, and unlike most sharks, their mouth is located on the front of the head. Their skin is unique like our fingerprints, and can be up to 15cm thick.
They are the sole member of the family Rhincodontidae.
While pupping has never been documented, in 2019 grounds may have been located in the Ticao Pass of the Philippines. During a WWF Photo Identification series, there were numerous resightings of previously recorded sharks and many juveniles were spotted.
Because of their pace and preference to roam in shallow waters, they are quite vulnerable to ships and fishing nets. In 2016, the IUCN listed them as endangered, their numbers decreasing. Recently assessed, the classification is now "largely depleted."
China is still operating whale shark slaughterhouses. The fins and meat are used in food, the teeth are used for crafting materials, while the cartilage and oil are used in various medicinal products.
Conservation efforts can only go so far in changing a culture, but awareness is always an important step.
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