AgainstWhaleSharkTourism
ChangingBehaviors
Somescientistsworrythatfeedingwhalesharksnearlyeverydaymightbedisruptive.Thenaturalbehaviorofawhalesharkistotravellongdistances.InOslob,mostwhalesharksmoveonafterafewdaysorweeks.Butabout4 percentstayyear-round.Scientistsdon’tknowwhy.Isapatternbeingcreatedbyfeedingthewhale sharks?
Researchersworrythatthesharksmaystarttodependuponpeopleforfood.Theymaybecomelesswaryofpeopleand boats.
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Atouristtouchesthefinofawhaleshark.Touristsarenotsupposedtotouchthem,butmany do.
Abiggerproblemmightbethatthesharksconnectboatswithfood.Thesharksmaybedrawntoboats,hopingforatastyhandout.Thetouristcanoeshavepaddles.Yet,manyotherboatshavepropellers.Thewhalesharkscangethurtiftheyswimtooclose.Also,touristsaregivenrulestofollowwhentheydive,butmanybreaktherules.Willthisbeaproblemforthewhalesharks?Nooneis sure.
Thisisanaerialviewoftouristsinthewaterandinboats,interactingwithwhale sharks.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_march_2020/changing_behaviors/667861/.shutterstock_1012226099.mp4.640_0_1.jpg)
Whalesharktourismiscontroversial.Isitworthpursuing?Or not?