International Whale Shark Day, 30 August, 2020 has been designed so that people can celebrate and increase awareness about these amazing sea-dwelling creatures. There is need to protect and conserve the whale shark, as their numbers are declining. These gentle giants fascinate aquatic enthusiasts and marine biologists alike, yet it is up to us to make sure that their numbers increase and their futures are protected. This is what International Whale Shark Day is all about.
Whale sharks are incredible to look at, and even more fascinating to learn about. However, they are becoming endangered. They are actually one of the most vulnerable marine animals according to the IUCN, which is the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
In 2016, the IUCN reclassified the whale shark from vulnerable to an endangered species. The population of whale sharks, one of the endangered migratory species, has declined by 63 per cent in last 75 years in the Indo-Pacific region.
Whale Shark Facts:
- Weighing over 20 tons, the whale shark is the largest fish in the sea.
- A whale shark lives an average of 70 years.
- Some whale sharks grow to over 32 feet long.
- These gentle giants are about the same size as a bus.
- The whale shark’s habitat is found in the tropical seas around the world.
- Whale sharks are carnivores, but their teeth are only 6 mm long.
- Like human fingerprints, whale sharks each have a unique skin pattern.
- They can grow up to 14 meters in length, as well as weighing an average of 12 ton.
- They prefer to roam seas that have around a 50-meter depth.
- They can dive up to 1,000 meters
One of the most fascinating facts about whale sharks is that they all have a unique pattern. The skin of a whale shark is fully unique, just like the fingerprint of a human. This gives researchers the ability to run visual analytics on a whale shark so that they can identify and track it correctly.
Started in 2012, International Whale Shark Day celebrates these gentle giants. There is a serious purpose to the day, which aims to raise awareness of how this animal has been hunted to vulnerability for its highly prized fins and meat.
In fact, in 2016, the whale shark was reclassified by the IUCN, moving from a vulnerable species to an endangered one, which is incredibly worrying.
There are many different ways that you can observe International Whale Shark Day. For example, you could learn more about the creature and spread awareness via your online presence, whether you are active on social media or you have your own blog. It is important to make sure that as many people as possible are aware of the situation so that we can all make a collective effort to protect these animals. Coming up to the date, you will find a lot of infographics and other pieces of content that you can share with your friends, family members, and followers.
Another way to help these incredible animals in honor of International Whale Shark Day is to cut down on your use of plastic and make sure that you are recycling properly. You can also raise awareness about this issue.
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