Say hello to the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. On August 30, we celebrate International Whale Shark Day to honor these magnificent marine creatures. These gentle giants are not related to whales, despite their impressive size—they can reach up to 40 feet in length. Whale sharks are calm creatures which 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.
International Whale Shark Day
Today in History
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Victory in Europe, 75 years ago
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Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
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A center of antiquity on the Mediterranean
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Lunar eclipse
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Life in the slow lane
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Big wheels on a big mountain
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Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Layton, Utah
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Here’s why landmarks are going dark
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Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
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What does the fox dream?
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A night of art and culture
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Valentines Day
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Cordouan Lighthouse, France
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Fall Astronomy Week
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Happy Presidents Day
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Let s ride! It s Roller Coaster Day
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Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy
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A river runs through rice fields
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The ‘Living Forest’ in Biscay, Spain
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Ski touring in Austria
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Hezké svátky
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The Kelpies statues in Falkirk, Scotland
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Stompin’ with the Big Chief
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Falling for the Canadian Rockies
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Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!
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World Wildlife Day
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Aura River in Turku, Finland
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Discovery Day in Yukon, Canada
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It s Mountain Day in Japan
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When Death Valley blew its top