Whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia Sep 4, 2023

Whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Say hello to the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. These gentle giants are not related to whales, despite their impressive size of an average 12 metres in length. Whale sharks are calm creatures that are usually safe for divers to swim alongside. These sharks are filter feeders and consume plankton and small fish by sieving them through their gill plates. There has been a significant decline in their populations, with an estimated 63% decrease in their numbers in the last 75 years. Threats include being hit by boats or tangled in fishing gear and their habitats are being damaged by pollution, coastal development and over-fishing. Advocates work through education and community engagement to help safeguard whale sharks and preserve our oceans.

© Jason Edwards/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

The Riviera of India
Sep 4, 2024Dusky eagle-owls, Pakistan
Sep 4, 2025Grizzly bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 18, 2023Polar bear mother and cubs, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Pastel perfection
Feb 14, 2025Happy Valentines Day!
Dec 24, 2023Christmas Eve
Dad on duty
An endless stretch of sky
Apr 21, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
Apr 23, 2025Shakespeare Day
Warm light through an ancient forest
Apr 5, 2024The Bahamas
Just a couple of know-it-owls
Sep 8, 2023International Literacy Day
A splash of colour
Stunning symmetry
Urban planning never stops
A beautiful labyrinth
Dec 17, 2025Eurasian red squirrel in Northumberland, England
Sep 10, 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
Nimble and stealthy
Dec 8, 2025Christmas lights on buildings of Domaso, Lake Como, Italy
Dec 29, 2025St. Gregory Church in Ani Ruins, Kars, Türkiye
Apr 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
Jan 31, 2026International Zebra Day
Jan 25, 2025Porto, Portugal
A remote oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert
Sep 24, 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
Which bird wore it best?
Sep 19, 2023Ganesh Chaturthi
Feb 4, 2025Golden Bridge, Bà Nà Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam
This lake is no mirage