Although these huge sea creatures are called ‘whale sharks’, they are not actually whales, but filter-feeding sharks, often referred to as "gentle giants". They are also the world’s largest fish, growing up to 12 meters long. 

Whale sharks are filter feeders and can neither bite nor chew. They can process more than 6,000 liters of water an hour through their gills. Although its mouth can stretch to four feet wide, a whale shark’s teeth are so tiny that they can only eat small shrimp, fish and plankton by using their gill rakers as a suction filter.

It's thought that less than 10% of whale sharks born survive to adulthood, but those that do may live to 150.

Soft and fun Whale Shark measures 17.5 inches long.