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Oceanic Odyssey of the Whale Shark

Whale Sharks are the world's largest fish - they can grow up to 12 m long. Despite being the size of a bus, they roam the oceans largely undetected - it's believed they make massive migrations but it hasn't been proved before.

Shark biologist, Dr Mark Meekan, is using the latest satellite tracking technology to answer this great mystery of the deep. That's if he can attach it to the Whale Shark in the first place of course...

Whale Shark

Wild Shark Chase

Dr Mark Meekan has spent the last year chasing Whale Sharks through the Indian Ocean.

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At Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia, hundreds of Whale Sharks spontaneously appear from the deep. Their arrival coincides with the spawning of coral, which provides food for the fish. Despite being as large as a bus, this is the only location we know they visit. Until now.

Dr Mark Meekan believes that Whale Sharks undergo huge migrations through the world's oceans and it is only by using the latest satellite technology to tag a few Whale Sharks will he be able to prove this theory. Following several failed attempts at tagging these giants of the ocean (one of which you can see in the video clip above), Mark eventually attached satellite trackers to a total of 20 Whale Sharks.

Mark then spent the following year on a year-long shark chase that led him across the Indian Ocean to the tropical islands of the Seychelles and the remote Australian outpost of Christmas Island where, in line with Mark’s theory, the Whale Sharks arrive just as the huge but fleeting Red Crab migration gets underway.

We'll be speaking to Dr Mark in Tuesday's programme to find out where these creatures roam exactly and you can watch the whole project later that evening in BBC 2's Natural World at 8pm.

Further Reading:

Report on the world's 2nd largest fish - The Basking Shark
Dr Mark Meekan speaks to BBC News
Facts and Figures on the Whale Shark

User comments

Dave W
In Nov 2006 I was on a dive rib en route from Sodwana Bay (South Africa) to a dive site, when someone spotted a male whale shark. We entered the water and I was privileged to be able to swim alongside him and took a great video and some photos. It was an truly amazing experience. Next day we had a similar experience with a smaller female whale shark. She was a bit skittish and swam faster so I couldn't keep up with her. I'd love to return and see more of them. Fantastic creatures! LOCATION: 53.583302,-2.433300 DATE: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:23:13 UTC

Karthik
It is an interesting topic & a good piece of information by BBC. LOCATION: 12.983200,77.583298 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:48:19 UTC

Alice
I am usally scared of sharks but these look so peaceful and calm, I forget that I am scared of sharks. LOCATION: 51.5290,-2.5438 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:17:17 UTC

Phil Bremner
I live and work in Perth, WA - I'm often sent videos of whale sharks off the NWS due to our subsea operations - it is absolutely amazing to see these animals at some very deep locations but also very concerning to see them being attracted to subsea infrastructure. As an endangered species everything should be done to remove human contact where possible - they should be left to freely roam the oceans as they have done for many thousands of years. LOCATION: 57.2820,-2.3730 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:35:54 UTC

Maude
I have never seen a shark in water, but I would love to see one but would most probably be terrified. LOCATION: 51.5087,-0.1483 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:34:53 GMT

Jessica
This rocks! LOCATION: 51.2138,1.4172 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:10:12 UTC

Nic Townsend
I swam with a baby whale shark off the Maldives, totally awesome and very memorable, but they are getting rarer to see, are they reducing in numbers or moving on?? LOCATION: 51.4587,-2.5358 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:54:48 GMT

Andrew Homden
Year 9 at the Dubai British School have been looking at Dr. Meekan's work as part of their Key Stage 3 Science in the News course. In particular we have been interested in his theory about whale shark migration and how he has set about testing this theory through his fieldwork. The work currently being undertaken by Year 9 reenforces their understanding of the scientific method of gathering evidence in order to test an hypothesis. This week's follow up homework has been to investigate the current controversy of a whale shark being kept at the new Atlantis water park in Dubai (which opened on Friday with a huge concert and party). Next week Year 9 will debate the arguments for and against animals in captivity. I'll be interested to hear what they have to say! Dr. Meekan's comments about animals like the whale shark being kept in capitivity would also be interesting if this message can be passed on to him. Andy Homden, teacher. LOCATION: 25.0682,55.2063 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:20:38 UTC WOtM team: We'd love to hear what they have to say too. Please let us know.

Stephen J Nicholls
Went diving with Whale Shark's in Donsol, Philippines - amazing to see at first hand LOCATION: 22.2799,114.1845 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:45:00 UTC

Chirwa Eric D
Please send audio vidoes of the world's largest fish LOCATION: -12.5358,27.5949 DATE: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:17:58 UTC

Paul Anderson
I want to see a whale shark, I missed them in NZ, Australia, and Thailand!! LOCATION: 51.3907,-0.3216 DATE: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:00:10 GMT

Stuart
The problem is that the whale shark meat is so valuable in China that if a whale shark is caught it can mean the the man or men who caught it need not work again for the rest of their lives. I was lucky enoug to swim with whale sharks off ningaloo reef and it is an indiscribale experience and one I will remember for the rest of my life. Well done to BBC and Mark Meekan on a ground beaking report..Many thanks LOCATION: 51.500000,-0.116700 DATE: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:56:57 UTC

Neil Armstrong
I try to listen to all nature programmes on my computer (the BBC does this very well) I would have liked to have been a marine biologist when younger. I live in a tree covered area called the Vega (South West of Orgiva), so abundant in wildlife. The nearby Sierra Nevada natural park is to the North so a great variety to see & Mediterranian 30 KMs to South (Costa Tropical). Whale/Basking sharks & most Cetaceans need protection from human cruelty & greed. Thank you for this website & I will look forward to more LOCATION: 36.8944,-3.4408 DATE: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:51:09 UTC

Andy Illingworth
I LOVE the Beeb website (news, radio, sport) & BBC Canada & World News TV - Absolute quality thanx !! LOCATION: 45.2206,-76.2053 DATE: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:20:03 GMT

Dan
Awesome. More like this needs doing before the existence of sharks altogether is damned. People need to know about the large-scale slaughter of sharks in their natural habitats, it's a shame that, in even this day and age, ignorance is bliss. Thanks LOCATION: 50.7258,-1.8484 DATE: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:10:45 GMT

William James Munro
I am very interested in wildlife all over the world and enjoy the BBC service LOCATION: 57.4937,-4.2380 DATE: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:05:44 UTC

Rob York
I am taking a yacht to the Hebrides next summer doing a charter, and would like if possible to see Basking Sharks and also to observe as much wildlife as we can. Where are we most likely to encounter them. We have had the experience of seeing and snorkling alongside Whale Sharks whilst we were sailing down through the Seychelles so I am very keen to see how much difference their is between the species. We will be in the Hebrides all of July next year. I do hope you can help. Thanks Rob LOCATION: 50.783298,-3.650000 DATE: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:58:51 UTC WOtM team: The best place to find Basking Sharks is off the SW coast of Great Britain where they are attracted to the plankton that can be found in warm waters during summer.

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