Latest Whale shark Stories

One of the world's most mysterious sharks, a megamouth, was trapped, butchered and dined on by Filipino fishermen, the environmental conservation group WWF announced on Tuesday.Megamouth shark sightings are so unusual that every sighting is numbered, this being only the 41st ever viewed or caught in the world.Elson Aca, a Donsol WWF representative, said the rare shark was caught and eaten against the organization's recommendation.The 13-foot, 1,100-pound megamouth was trapped by fishermen...

A Singapore casino developer is planning to import whale sharks for its planned aquarium, resulting in several local and international animal welfare groups launching an online campaign opposing the plans, the AFP reported.The groups have called on the public to "voice their opinions" on the campaign's website on Wednesday concerning the casino's acquisition of the whale sharks.The casino will feature a Marine Life Park set to become the biggest seawater aquarium in the world,...

According to the Associated Press, a group of activists in the Philippines have rescued a whale shark the size of a forearm, believed to be the smallest offspring of the world's largest fish.The 15-inch-long whale shark was found with its tail tied to a small rope on a beach last week in Pilar town in the eastern Philippines.  According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the fish was "arguably the smallest living whale shark in recorded history."The shark was loosed from the rope...

A marine biology crew has managed to record a whale shark - the world's biggest fish - expelling food waste, which was then scooped up for research.The sample has helped us discover more about the giant creature's feeding habits, said biologist Mark Meekan.The footage will be available as part of a BBC Natural World wildlife program called, "Whale Shark".Closely related to great whites, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is far less fearsome as they are only filter feeders, swimming with their...

BOULDER, Colo., July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Budget-conscious travel doesn't have to mean forgoing safari dreams -- or sustainable travel goals. Award-winning ecotour provider Natural Habitat Adventures suggests setting your safari sights on Mexico, where favorable exchange rates and airfare deals boost value. "Mexico has an amazing range of wildlife, including some unique opportunities with rare and endangered species," says Natural Habitat Adventures founder and director Ben...

By Stephanie Cuevas, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Jul. 20--BILOXI -- In 2003, a small group of researchers from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab stumbled upon a pod of 16 whale sharks several miles south of the coast of Venice, La., while conducting a study on sargasm weed. Dr. Eric Hoffmayer, a participant in the study, saw the perfect opportunity to study the biggest fish in the ocean. In the past five years, Hoffmayer has started a satellite tagging study for whale sharks...

Whale sharks, which grow to weigh as much as two or three adult elephants, are thriving in waters off Western Australia, a new study of underwater images suggests. Up to 65 feet long (20 meters), the whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is the world's largest living fish species — and also the largest shark. Though hefty, this shark is known as the "gentle giant" for its non-predatory behavior. Rather than tearing through meaty flesh of prey like many sharks, this fish,...

ATLANTA -- Georgia Aquarium officials say it may be months before they know what caused Wednesday's death of another whale shark, the second this year at the only facility outside Asia that displays the huge, rare fish.Norton's death also came only a few weeks after two new whale sharks arrived at the aquarium from Taiwan. At the time, Taiwan fishery officials had said they were satisfied the aquarium provided the quality care the young whale sharks - named Yushan, which means "Jade...

ATLANTA (AP) - A prized whale shark at the world's largest aquarium died Thursday night, the second death of a popular animal at the center in 10 days.Ralph, one of four whale sharks in the only such exhibit outside Asia, arrived at the Georgia Aquarium in June 2005 from Taiwan, where he had been destined to become seafood. The cause of death was not immediately determined."Recently, he has not been eating well and has had some unusual swimming patterns," aquarium spokeswoman Donna...

ATLANTA - The world's largest aquarium has added two of the world's largest fish. Two female whale sharks - Alice and Trixie - went on display Sunday after arriving the night before at the Georgia Aquarium. They joined two male whale sharks, Ralph and Norton, in their 6 million-gallon tank. The four sharks are the only ones of their kind on display outside of Asia. The females were flown more than 8,000 miles from Taipei, Taiwan. They received a police escort from Hartsfield-Jackson...