Whale sharks are not only the largest shark species, but also the world’s largest fish. Despite their large size, they are harmless, gentle and docile which is why they are sometimes referred to as the ocean’s gentle giants. They only eat tiny plankton, fish eggs and sometimes small fishes by filter feeding as they swim slowly with their moths wide open.
Whale sharks are covered with white spots in different patterns, unique to each individual. Hence, each individual of whale sharks can be distinguished by a specialized computer software, by analyzing the spot patterns from photos. This technology is also used by Philippine's Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute (LAMAVE) for whale shark studies in this area. In their research, they found that whale sharks swam down all the way to Semporna from Palawan in the Philippines. LAMAVE is currently collaborating with Endangered Marine Species Research Unit of (UEMS) from Borneo Marine Research Institute, UMS to study whale sharks in Sabah.
In the early March of 2020, a post circulated on social media showing a footage of a few whale sharks swam near Gaya Islands, Sabah. In an attempt to identify the whale that are currently in this area, head of UEMS, AP Dr. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto and her team organised a whale shark survey from Sepanggar to Gaya Islands.
During the survey, only one individual of whale shark was sighted in the Gaya Island area. Only the tip of caudal fin was visible when it was sighted. However, the whale shark disappeared before the team was able to get an ID photo of the whale shark.
In the same survey, team also deployed baited remote underwater video system (BRUVs) in the nearby seagrass area to determine the fish diversity.
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