NOSY BE (MADAGASCAR)- Could the island of Nosy Be, off western Madagascar be a new global hotspot for endangered whale sharks? Recent satellite tag-data from research suggests this as possibility. That the whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) live in these waters is no secret. They are routinely sighted off the northwest coastContinue Reading
OSLOB (PHILIPPINES)- Over 250,000 tourists a year come to Oslob, Cebu, in the Philippines to experience swimming with the world’s largest sharks: whale sharks. Despite the moral and ethical issues of hand-feeding these endangered sharks for tourist purposes, tourists keep coming to Oslob. That is the conclusion of a newContinue Reading
ISLA MUJERES (MEXICO)- The Isla Mujeres Department of Tourism and international Festival sponsor Ceviche Tours have announced the dates of this year’s Whale Shark Festival, which takes place for the 10th time on the small Caribbean island of Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The Festival will be held July 20-23, 2017 in IslaContinue Reading
NABIRE (PAPUA)- The whale sharks of Cenderawasih Bay National Park, Papua, also known as ‘The Galápagos of the East’, have become a main tourist attraction. In 2012, the park listed 1,764 foreign and local tourists and in 2016 this was over 4000 foreign and local visitors. The chance of meeting one of theContinue Reading
MIAMI (USA)- An important first step was taken towards the regional protection of sharks throughout the Caribbean. At the request of the Netherlands, regional governments last week recommended eight species of sharks and rays for protection under the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol. Delegates from 14 Caribbean countriesContinue Reading
SANTA MARIANITA (ECUADOR)- Over 100 volunteers did their best in saving a 9 meter long whale shark that washed up on a beach off the town of Santa Marianita. Their effort unfortunately was too late. The female whale shark became stranded on the beach after being caught in the shallowContinue Reading
Whale sharks are the world’s biggest fish – and swimming with them has become a top tourist attraction in the Philippines. But scientists are worried about the impact that tourism could have on the marine giants. See an Al Jazeera reportage from Oslob Island. Tweet