A new study has mapped whale shark stranding hotspots in Indonesian waters over the past decade and linked their occurrence to oceanographic dynamics, providing a scientific basis for targeted, preventative conservation strategies. In the study published in October, marine researchers from Indonesia and New Zealand identified locations with significant reports of stranded whale sharks (Rhicodon […]
Tag: Whale Sharks
Never-seen-before BBC footage captures killer whales pretending to drown one of their own in chilling hunting session
From wave washing seals off Antarctic ice to snatching sea lions from the shoreline, killer whales are renowned for their effective hunting techniques. Now, killer whales have been filmed practising a new technique to hunt the largest animal to have ever lived: blue whales. In footage narrated by David Attenborough for the BBC TV series […]
How a marine heatwave is threatening Australia’s spectacular coral reefs
When it comes to coral, the Great Barrier Reef steals the global limelight. It’s a bucket-list place for many and, when it gets hit by coral bleaching, it makes news around the world. But Australia has another group of spectacular reefs on the west of the continent. Many of them had managed to escape the […]
Cruise ships and intensified tourism in Mexico threaten whale shark habitat
In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than a dozen mega cruise ships were stationed in Bahía de La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, due to the tourism shutdown. This led to pollution of the ecosystem and the displacement of marine species such as the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), which was not seen again […]
Orca gang develops brutal hunting strategy to take on the world’s largest shark — ‘This is a fascinating behaviour’
A gang of orcas off the coast of Mexico have learned how to hunt whale sharks — the world’s largest shark species — and their tactics are brutal. One male individual was present at the majority of these hunting events, researchers say, suggesting he may be driving this predatory behavior. “The animals have shown us […]
‘Momentous’ sustainable fishing rules adopted for Atlantic Ocean swordfish
In the late 1990s, swordfish had been so overfished in the North Atlantic Ocean that its population faced the possibility of collapse. The dire situation sparked boycotts and conservation campaigns in honor of the highly migratory species, a predator that can move at nearly the speed of a cheetah and slash at prey with the […]
Vanishing Whale Sharks Signal Crisis in Marine Ecosystems
Whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean, are disappearing at an alarming rate. Despite their size and significance in marine ecosystems, these gentle giants face numerous threats that have put them on the brink of extinction. Understanding the factors contributing to their decline is crucial for conservation efforts. Declining Populations Whale sharks, known scientifically […]