I am not a toy, I am not a gift, I am a 100 year commitment. Think twice before you give someone a whale shark this International Whale Shark Day. Despite their name, whale sharks aren’t whales at all, but filter-feeding sharks. They are the world’s largest fish, growing to 12 metres long on average, but can sometimes reach up to 20 metres long and weigh 20 tonnes! But this is no megalodon, so no need to fear — whale sharks are completely harmless. Although their mouths are 4 feet wide, their teeth are too small to bite or chew. Instead, they rely on suction and gill rakers to filter tiny food like plankton, shrimp, and small fish out of the water. Sadly, whale shark populations have dropped by more than 50% in the past 75 years. Bycatch, vessel strikes, unsustainable tourism, and climate change all threaten their survival. Current protections have helped, but experts are calling for stronger action — including uplisting whale sharks to the highest level of international protection...