Whale Shark

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, growing over 12m long, weighing 34t (about 28 Toyota Corollas), and living up to 80 years! Despite the name, they're true fish, not mammals. As filter feeders, they use sieve-like pads to consume phytoplankton, krill, and other small organisms. Migratory, they travel vast distances; one female was tagged and traveled 7,800 km in just 5 months! Listed as endangered in 2016, whale sharks have high recovery potential with sustained conservation efforts.