Whale shark

Why in news?

• A 14.9-foot-long whale shark which was washed ashore near Sunapur in Odisha’s Ganjam district died despite attempts by fishermen to save it.

About Whale Shark

• Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest shark, and indeed largest of any fishes alive today.

• They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce.

• Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world.

• Their white spotted colouration makes these gentle giants easy to distinguish, and popular with snorkelers and divers at sites where they aggregate off the coast.

• The maximum size of whale sharks is not known, but could be as large as 20m.

• They are classified as ‘Endangered’ under IUCN Red List

Prelims Question

Q.Consider the following statements regarding Whale Shark.
1. Whale sharks are among the largest fishes in the world
2. They are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ under IUCN Red List
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question