Preliminary observations on behaviour and prey items of the whale shark Rhincodon typus in a juvenile aggregation site (Nosy Be, Madagascar)

Rhincodon typus, commonly known as whale shark, is currently listed by the IUCN in the “Endangered” category; it’s believed to feed primarily on meso- and macrozooplankton and has been reported to gather seasonally at a few, well known, coastal regions where has been fuelling a growing tourism industry (Rowat & Brooks, 2012). However, legislation to regulate the interaction between tourists and the foraging sharks is lacking. Well known threats affect the survival of this species, but many aspects of its ecology are still unknown: a deeper knowledge of R. typus feeding ecology is required to better manage interactions at these sites and guarantee a sustainable exploitation of the species