Say hello to the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. These gentle giants are not related to whales, despite their impressive size of an average 12 metres in length. Whale sharks are calm creatures that are usually safe for divers to swim alongside. These sharks are filter feeders and consume plankton and small fish by sieving them through their gill plates. There has been a significant decline in their populations, with an estimated 63% decrease in their numbers in the last 75 years. Threats include being hit by boats or tangled in fishing gear and their habitats are being damaged by pollution, coastal development and over-fishing. Advocates work through education and community engagement to help safeguard whale sharks and preserve our oceans.
Whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Today in History
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Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
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A cuddling pair of Taiwan yuhina
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A very public display of affection
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American Red Cross pioneers
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We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
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Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
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A train journey to remember
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A magnificent place of worship
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Panoramic Penzance
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World Meteorological Day
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Chasing summer in the art world
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The last living fort in India
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Can you name these pretty flowers?
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Behold the architectural marvel
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A different kind of toucan
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Regal Radiance
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Sea Otter Awareness Week
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Where the humpback whale sings
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Mylopotamos, Thessaly, Greece
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This lesson is going swimmingly
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Füzér Castle in the Zemplén Mountains, Hungary
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Dragon waterfall, Venezuela
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Staying in the loop
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On the open ocean road
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Leap Day
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Amber waves of grain
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Christmas Eve
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Monarch butterflies
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Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
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Polar bear mother and cubs, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada