A whale shark in Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia

© Andy Lerner/Tandem Stills + Motio

Being gentle to the giants. International Whale Shark Day

On August 30, India unites with the global community to shine a spotlight on whale sharks. Originally discovered off South Africa's coast in the 1820s, these creatures have patrolled the seas for more than 240 million years. The whale shark holds the record as the largest fish on Earth, reaching lengths up to 12 metres, with one exceptional individual measuring a remarkable 18.8 metres. Found in tropical oceans around the world, these filter feeders glide through the water, mouth wide open, straining plankton and small fish. Each pattern on their dotted, starry skin is as unique as a human fingerprint.

Sadly, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists whale sharks as endangered due to overfishing, habitat loss and climate change. Amid adversity, there is hope, like in Cenderawasih Bay in Indonesia, a whale shark oasis that's pictured here. In this bay, these titans dine on the generosity of fishermen who feed them baitfish for luck, reflecting a unique bond between man and marine life.