Whale sharks, also known as Rhincodon Typus, are the largest fish in the sea- they are about the size of a school bus. They are also known to be one of the top predators in the ocean, but scary as they might sound- they are actually very human-friendly. They are filter-feeders, and hence prey more on smaller fish rather than large sea animals, and it is for this same reason that they are not a threat to humans.

You are likely to find these creatures in warmer oceans, in the waters of Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, India, and the United States. However, despite the wide distribution of whale sharks all across the world, this breed of sharks are very prone to endangerment as they are highly dependent on healthy marine ecosystems and large numbers of prey in order to feed them and sustain their physical needs.

Over the past 4 decades, the population of whale sharks are said to have decreased by 50%, making them high on the priority list for animal conservation. In fact, they were marked on the red list by IUCN, signifying that they have a high risk for global extinction, and we all have a part to play in protecting these creatures from extinction.