Whale Shark Conservation

ENDANGERED STATUS

Endangered

NUMBER REMAINING IN THE WILD

Number Unknown

ENDEMIC REGION

Warm Oceans Across The World

How Endangered Are Whale Sharks

Whale sharks are highly valued on international black markets for their meat, fins and oil, and this means that they are becoming a species targeted by poachers.

There is such little information about whale shark populations that it's hard to determine their status. However, what is gathered from data that is available, we know that whale shark conservation efforts are desperately needed.

If things continue as they are at the moment, the whale shark is at risk of becoming extinct, and we would lose one of the world’s most gentle giants.

Threats Whale Sharks Are Facing

Due to their size, whale sharks have very few, if any natural predators and threats in the wild, but problems begin to occur for them when humans get involved.

• Bycatch – whale sharks often get accidentally caught up in nets and fishing gear that was not aimed at them, and this conflict is often fatal.

• Poaching – as mentioned, these fish are prized for their fins, meat, and oil and thousands are killed each year for this reason.

• Collisions with boats – as whale sharks feed in waters which are frequented by large boats with propellers; they are often struck by them and sustain fatal injuries.

Fast Facts