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August 30 - International Whale Shark Day
A fishermen in Gilakaladindi, Andhra Pradesh, caught a massive whale shark in their nets. A similar incident happened shortly after.
Whale sharks, are facing threats from accidental capture and illegal hunting.
Conservation efforts are ongoing to address these issues
Whale shark (Rhincodon typus).
The world’s largest fish species.
Despite its name, it's a type of shark, not a whale
The whale shark is a ‘filter feeder shark’ which means it does not eat meat like other sharks.
Whale sharks filter sea water and feed on tiny planktons.
They travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce.
Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world.
Included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972
Listed as endangered by the IUCN.
CITES listing: Appendix II
Threats: Hunted for its fins, liver, and oil; faces risks from bycatch, habitat degradation, and pollution.
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