Whale sharks get their name from their shark-like body that allows them to breathe underwater with their gills and swim like sharks; however, they don’t eat like sharks. Whale sharks are filter feeders which means they actually prey on small fish like plankton and krill, which gives them the ‘whale’ part of their name. A frequently asked question is “how do whale sharks sleep?” Well, their shark-like body actually forces them to do something known as sleep swimming. So even though their body is at rest, they are constantly moving and breathing with minimal brain activity. The reason they are built to keep moving while resting is to keep water moving past their gills, otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to convert the water into oxygen.
Their existence attracts many tourists all around the world who are eager to pay to scuba dive and see these amazing creatures that roam along the equator. There are, however, many tourists that actually harm these whale sharks and their environment without even knowing it. Thankfully, these animals have attracted so much attention that most governments have actually started to protect the environment around them for the better good of these whale sharks. There have been too many irresponsible tourists and tour guides dealing with whale sharks, so it’s a relief to know that governments are finally taking a step to better handle and take care of the way people tour while still getting to see one of the most beautiful ocean creatures in their most natural settings.