The Dorsal Fin

In light of all the oil-filled footage that we’ve seen over the past month, I thought it might be refreshing to share some relatively pristine whale shark footage. This video is from YouTube user OceansBelowKohTao and was shot at Koh Tao, Thailand in 2008. It features some exceptional underwater whale shark footage. Happy viewing!

YouTube user, BubbleheadJace recently posted some of the highest quality whale shark (Rhincodon typus) footage I’ve seen in a long time. The footage was shot in 2009 off Koh Tao, Thailand. The video encourages viewers to visit WhaleShark.org to learn more about whale sharks and how to protect them.

According to various media sources, including The Manila Times, The Philippine Star, and an Associated Press video, a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) was found floating in Manila Bay and later died. As has been the case with another shark story in the news this week, the size of the whale shark varies depending on the source, although the general range seems to be between 14′-18′ (4.25m-5.5m). According to the Philippine, the animal will be buried, by officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in Pangasinan. The cause of death of the animal has not yet been determined.

Earth-Touch.com posted a new video footage today featuring encounters with common bottlenose dolphins, a manta ray, and a 5-6m whale shark. The video footage was shot at Sodwana Bay, off the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa on October 14th.