Save the whale shark campaign

Help save Australia's whale shark from disappearing. Donate now!

Researchers in WA are tagging whale sharks to learn more about these gentle giants. (Credit: Getty Images)

GLIDING THROUGH TROPICAL WATERS off the coast of Australia, the mighty whale shark is a true gentle giant of the sea. Measuring up to 12m long, they are the largest fish in the oceans, yet one of the most vulnerable. Often seen off the coast of Western Australia, the whale shark is migratory and can also be found along coastlines of the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.

The AG Society is currently raising funds to support Australian conservation group ECOCEAN, who is building an international photo ID library of whale sharks. Photos taken by divers and researchers are used to match up the angles of triangles made between the spots behind the sharks left gill, which can be matched like a fingerprint to each shark.

Anyone can contribute a photo, and each contributor will receive updates when 'their' whale shark is spotted and matched again.

DONATE NOW! Your support will make a difference.  

DID YOU KNOW?

* The whale shark has up to 300 tiny hooked teeth in each jaw, but it doesn't use these for feeding. They eat by opening their wide mouths and filtering water through their gills. Small crustaceans, krill and fishes from the water are captured and are their food of choice.

* The whale shark was first identified in 1828 off the coast of South Africa.

* Each whale shark has its own individual checkered pattern of white and creamy-coloured spots. These can be used to identify individual fish.

* The largest recorded whale shark to date was 12m long. Most range between 4m and 10m in length.

* In 2004 a whale shark was recorded diving to 980m, but it may have gone even deeper!