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Endangered Species - Whale Sharks

By Eli Bartlett

  • Discovery

    The whale shark was both discovered and named by Andrew Smith, based on one that was harpooned in Table Bay, South Africa.
  • First Whale Shark In Captivity

    First Whale Shark In Captivity

    The first attempt at keeping a whale shark in a aquarium was by the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium located in Japan.
  • Endangered Species

    Endangered Species

    The whale shark was added to the endangered species list in 2002. The main cause for this was the increase in the amount of commercial fishing that occured.
  • International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

    International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

    The IFAW was funded in 2004, which allows anyone to donate to help support them in the process of preserving wildlife.
  • Australian Intervention

    Australian Intervention

    The Australian Government agreed on a recovery plan for whale sharks from 2005-2010

  • Ralphs Death

    Ralph, a whale shark, was the first whale shark to die in the Georgia Aquarium
  • WWF Efforts

    WWF Efforts

    The WWF organization began studying and keeping track of whale sharks since 2007 up to 2019.

  • Nortons Death

    Norton, a whale shark, is the second one to die this year. He was located in the Georgia Aquarium.

  • Oldest Whale Shark In Captivity

    The oldest whale shark in captivity is currently 24 years old and still living. It is located in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.