A whale shark in Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia
© Andy Lerner/Tandem Stills + Motio
Being gentle to the giants. International Whale Shark Day
Today we’re celebrating the world's largest fish, the whale shark. These gentle giants can grow up to 40 feet long, with one reaching a record 61.7 feet. Found in tropical oceans, these filter feeders glide through the water, mouths wide open, straining plankton and small fish. The patterns on their dotted, starry skin are 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.
Related Images
Dolphin pod near Réunion, overseas department of France, Indian Ocean
The Bahamas photographed from the International Space Station
Pacific sea nettles off the coast of Carmel, California
Veined octopus in a giant clam shell, Sulawesi Sea, Indonesia
Blacktip reef sharks, Maldives
Humpback whale
Gray seal pup, Lundy Island, England
Mediterranean red sea stars, Mediterranean Sea
Today on Bing
Whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Aug 30, 2023
Crater glow from Mount Mayon in the Philippines
Aug 30, 2021
Hay bales in a field in Jutland, Denmark
Aug 30, 2020
Hardee County Fair in Wauchula, Florida
Aug 30, 2019
