August 30 is International Whale Shark Day

Marine conservation efforts in the last few decades have brought a lot of attention to the importance of protecting the delicate marine ecosystem that is home to so many of the world’s species, including the biggest fish in the ocean, the whale shark. As more and more individuals learn about this gentle giant, more strides are taken to safeguard their habitats and protect them from capture. Since 2012, August 30th has officially been marked as International Whale Shark Day, a celebratory occasion and awareness day designed to spread love to these impressive sea-dwellers.

The History of Whale Shark Day

International Whale Shark Day arose in 2012 as a way to bring awareness to the dire situations of the whale shark species around the world. Hunted for their prized fins and meat, whale shark populations have been dwindling for decades, and in 2016 the marine animal was moved from the vulnerable species list to that of endangered. Hunting is a major contributor to their decline, however collisions with boats, getting trapped in fishing gear, and the ingestion of plastic has also led to their dwindling numbers.

Organizations that aim to protect the species, hope that you’ll use this awareness day to spread information about the animal on your social media and in your daily conversations. You can encourage individuals to donate to charities that have missions related to whale shark preservation, or volunteer to clean up a beach, which serves to support all marine conservation efforts. One final way to honor Whale Shark Day is to make a concerted effort to improve your habits that have an impact on the environment, recycling more and using less plastic. If everyone does their part, the marine ecosystem will begin to thrive.

Fun Facts About The Biggest Fish in the Ocean

While often confused, whale sharks actually belong to the shark family, although they differ from many of the frightening sharks you normally hear about. Their teeth are only six millimeters in length, making their bite much less scary for those looking to swim with whale sharks in Cabo, not to mention the fact that these sharks are filter-feeding, which means they don’t actually use their teeth to chew.
So why ‘whale’ sharks? Reaching up to 19 meters in length and weighing in at an average of 12 tons, these giant creatures rival some of the biggest whales in the ocean with their sheer size.
Just like a snowflake, each whale shark has a different pattern on its skin. Researchers use this unique fingerprint to track whale sharks and aid in the marine conservation efforts geared at protecting them.
Like humans, whale sharks can live up to a 100 years old, but they can’t reproduce until around 30. When they do, females can have up to 300 live young at a time.

Swimming with Whale Sharks

The popularity of swimming with whale sharks has been growing in recent years, with adventurers seeking out the best locations for their vacations based on where these animals have their homes. While entering the habitat of any wild animal should always be done with caution, these gentle giants move slowly and they have a preference for shallow waters, which makes swimming with whale sharks a great activity for individuals of all ages. Baja California is one of the best locations on the planet for this type of activity and it is actually one of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas. There, you’ll find companies that specialize in tours that allow you to safely swim with whale sharks in Cabo, while at the same time teaching you about how to do your part to protect the species.

Whether you’re looking to swim with whale sharks in Cabo or just interested in the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas, use August 30, International Whale Shark Day,to learn more about the biggest fish in the ocean and do your part to keep it safe. If we all work to make this awareness dayeffective, we could help protect their marine ecosystem and remove whale sharks from the endangered species list.