SCMP is reporting that biologists in the Philippines have rescued a 38cm whale shark near Donsol, which may be the smallest known specimen of a whale shark found so far. It had been caught by fishermen and tied by its tail to a stick on the beach.
In 1996 an examination of a dead whale shark discovered a number of unborn embryos which measured between 37 and 48 cm. That implies that this new whale shark is a baby and may have been born around Donsol.
Donsol is known for the large number of adult whale sharks which can be found there at certain times of year, and it has always been assumed that it is one of many feeding areas along their migration routes. Now this opens up the interesting possibility that it is more important and forms an area where whale sharks come to give birth.
The whale shark pup was released in deep water.
The photo above comes from an SCMP article.
