International Whale Shark Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Whale Shark

International Whale Shark Day is celebrated on August 30 to honour the majestic nature of whale sharks. The enormous fish is the longest shark species on the planet, reaching a maximum length of 60 feet after birth. The whale shark’s behaviour is known for being sluggish and gentle. It prefers to swim in modest depths, but can be found in waters up to 3,000 feet deep. Due to these characteristics, whale sharks are exceptionally simple to catch. People have been consuming their flesh and appendages. The whale shark market has led to a population decline of at least 50 percent. This situation is alarming, and the giant has been added to the list of endangered species. Due to the threat posed by large numbers of plankton, which is one of the primary food sources for whale sharks, the general marine environment is also in peril as whale shark populations decline.

The background of International Whale Shark Day

First celebrated in 2008 at the International Whale Shark Conference in Isla Holbox, the International Whale Shark Day is now observed annually on June 30. Forty ocean experts, activists, and scientists who were concerned about the population decline of whale sharks attended the conference. While these sharks have existed for more than 240 to 260 million years, the whale shark was not identified off the coast of South Africa until the 1820s. Dr. Andrew Smith accurately characterised the fish as the world’s largest shark. Despite their immense size and the fact that their smaller relatives can be more aggressive, whale sharks are known for their peaceful dispositions. At birth, they measure between 16 and 24 inches, but by the time they are 25 years old, they can reach lengths of 46 to 60 feet. They possess 300 rows of 3,000 canines that are only 0.25 millimetres in length! Whale sharks weigh approximately 12 tonnes and are filter feeders, consuming primarily planktons, squids, and fish. They also have immense appetites, which can cause them to consume up to 44 lbs of food per day.

The beautiful, enormous creatures, which have distinct patterns of dots and lines on their epidermis, are difficult to find. They have existed since the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, but there were reportedly fewer than 350 sightings before the 1980s. Since the discovery of the whale shark by the scientific community more than a century ago, this fact has emerged. These sharks are found in shallow, mild waters. Every spring, whale sharks migrate to the western Australian continental margin. The Ningaloo Reef coral provides an abundance of microalgae for the fish in the area. In recent decades, however, the whale shark has been added to the list of endangered species worldwide. They are relentlessly hunted for their meat, fins, and for sheer amusement. Parts of Asia, such as the Philippines, continue the trade in whale sharks. If whale sharks are not preserved, our oceans will be affected. Too many planktons will encourage algal growth, which will have negative consequences for other fish species, the environment, and humans.

International Whale Shark Day: Wishes, Quotes, Greetings, Messages

5 WHALE SHARK FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

Even though “whale” is in their names, the only reason they are known as whale sharks is due to their enormous girth.

Because whale sharks lack sharp and long teeth, they can only ingest their prey (shrimps, fish, and planktons) in their entirety.

Whale sharks can live up to 150 years if they endure to that age; however, more than 90 percent of whale sharks are killed before reaching this age.

Whale sharks are slow swimmers, reaching a maximum pace of 3.1 miles per hour.

Whale sharks, unlike whales, do not remain with their offspring after giving birth.

INTERNATIONAL WHALE SHARK DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	August 30	Wednesday
2024	August 30	Friday
2025	August 30	Saturday
2026	August 30	Sunday
2027	August 30	Monday