AgainstWhaleSharkTourism
ChangingBehaviors
Somescientistsworrythatfeedingthewhalesharksfrom6a.m.tonoon364daysoftheyearmightbedisruptive.Thenaturalbehaviorofawhalesharkistotravellong distances.
Whalesharkscanmigrate12,800 kilometers(8,000miles)ina three-yearperiod.InOslob,mostofthewhalesharksmoveonafterafewdaysorweeks.Butabout4percentbecomeyear-roundresidents.Scientistsdon’tknowwhysomestayandothersgo.Theyalsodon’tknowwhythewhalesharksintheareaareallyoungmales.Maturemalesaren’taround,andfemalesdon’tseemtobepresenteither.Scientistsareconcernedthatthismaybeapatterncreatedbyfeedingthewhale sharks.
Researchersworrythatthesharksmaystarttodependuponpeopleforfoodandbecomelesswaryofpeopleandboats.Whalesharksnaturallyeatavarietyoffood,butthetourguidesoffOslobonlysupplythewhalesharkswithmassiveamountsof shrimps.
Atouristtouchesthefinofawhalesharkwhilediving.Touristsarenotsupposedtotouchthem,butmany do.
Alargerproblemmightbethatthesharksassociateboatswithfood.AbouthalfofthewhalesharksstudiedinOslobhavecutsontheirbodiescausedbypropellers.ThetouristcanoesatOslobdon'thavepropellers.Theyarepoweredbypaddles.Theydon'thurtthewhalesharks.Butthesharksmaybedrawntoboatswithpropellershopingforatastyhandout.Theycangethurt instead.
Touristsaretoldnottowearsunblockinthewater,asitcontainsachemicaltoxictowildlife.Theyarealsotoldnottotouchorridethewhalesharks,butmanyswimmersbreaktherules.Whatdoesthatmeanforthewhalesharks?Isthephysicalinteractionwithpeopleaproblem?Nooneissure yet.
Thisisanaerialviewoftouristsinthewaterandinboats,interactingwithwhale sharks.
Whalesharktourismisacontroversialissue.Istoomuchinteractionwithpeopleabadthingforthewhalesharks?Orisitokay?Isitworthpursuingtohelpthelivelihoodofthe people?