The Whale Shark – Rhincodon typus.
Madagascar vacation offers you the opportunity to discover, observe, and swim with the largest fish in the ocean, the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus).
In the region of Nosy Be, there are many marine creatures, including the whale shark, which is often encountered during a sea trip. Every year, more and more tourists from around the world come to the region to meet these “gentle giants.”
The best time of year to see them is from October to December, but throughout the rest of the year, you can encounter them while diving or on a trip.
Discover the majestic whale shark on a cruise.
This majestic fish of impressive size is characterized by a unique pattern with ridges and dots on its thick dorsal skin. These markings are as unique as human fingerprints.
With their immense and massive size, whale sharks can be impressive, but these “gentle giants” of the oceans are harmless and free from aggression. They mainly feed on plankton, which they filter, krill, small fish, and squid.
Their average size is about 8 meters, but some can measure up to 14 meters and weigh up to 12 tons.
They move at a slow speed (about 5 km/h), can be During their migrations covering thousands of kilometers, whale sharks are generally solitary creatures. However, sometimes aggregations can be observed in certain lagoons during the animal’s or coral’s breeding seasons, as they also feed on the plankton soup that these scatter.
Although the process of pregnancy is not yet known, we do know that the young are born fully formed and are about 45 to 50 cm long, and that the fish reach sexual maturity at the age of 20 to.
Walhaie, also known as whale sharks, can live up to 100 years or more, with an average life expectancy of 70 years. These fish have no known predators other than killer whales and, primarily, humans.
While they pose no threat to divers or humans in general, these harmless creatures are unfortunately increasingly threatened by human activities and overfishing. Whale sharks are currently listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Whale sharks are gentle and very easy to approach, which is why it is strongly advised not to touch them to avoid transferring diseases and bacteria to them. Some of them may be affected by human activities, but they are not a threat to humans.
Keeping a respectful distance is necessary to observe them respectfully and, above all, to facilitate their movements.
Urlaub auf Madagaskar advocates for discovering this wonderful creature with respect and gentleness, in order to disturb it as little as possible and leave everyone with the memory of an unforgettable being.
