August 30, "International Whale Shark Day."

August 30 of each year coincides with International Whale Shark Day, first announced in 2008 on Olbox Island, Mexico, an area inhabited by a large number of whale sharks, with the aim of raising awareness of the conservation of whale sharks that are currently classified as Endangered, according to the IUCN Red List.

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, measuring more than 18 to 20 meters long and weighing more than 20 to 30 tons, with round, white or yellow dots, arranged along their bodies, which are used to identify whale sharks. The main food is plankton, shrimp larvae and small aquatic animals. By opening their mouths to filter 5,000 liters of seawater per hour and using filters to choose food, whale sharks are called "kind giants" because although they have a large body size, whale sharks are harmless to humans, as well as sharks. Whales have an average life expectancy of 70 to 100 years, or perhaps 130 years, but whale sharks currently face threats to fishing nets and eating plastic waste in the sea.

Whale shark status is currently assessed as a Red List of Threatened Species by the IUCN. It is classified as an Endangered Species and Conservation Status in Thailand. It has designated whale sharks as a wild animal in the 19th order according to the Wildlife Reserves and Protection Act 2019. It is also the only fish named as a wild animal.

We can help conserve whale sharks by not dumping trash into the sea, not supporting overdose fisheries, supporting environmentally friendly tourism, and campaigning against the capture or trading of whale shark products, so that whale sharks remain on the sea.

Source: Wildlife Conservation Bureau Wildlife Conservation Office Facebook page, Thailand and Marine and Coastal Resources Knowledge Archive website.

# National Parks Department, Wildlife and Plant Species # International Whale Shark Day # InternationalWhaleSharkDay # Whale shark # WhaleShark