SPECIES: Rhincodon typus — Whale Shark
CLASSIFICATION: Vulnerable
The Whale Shark is the largest fish in the ocean, reaching lengths of up to 18 metres. Despite their enormous size, these gentle giants are harmless filter feeders, gliding through tropical and warm-temperate waters in search of plankton and small fish. With their distinctive spotted patterns, they are a breathtaking sight in the marine world and play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems.
Their immense size has left them no less susceptible to the threats of extinction; listed on the EPBC as Vulnerable and on the IUCN as Endangered due to a range of threats. Habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change are altering the delicate balance of their marine environment. They are also at risk of vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, particularly in areas where industrial fishing overlaps with their migration routes. Illegal fishing and accidental bycatch continue to put pressure on their populations, and because Whale Sharks are slow to mature and reproduce, their recovery is a slow process.