Rhincoda

Endangered The whale shark is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species, and holds many records for size in the animal kingdom, most notably being by far the most massive living non-mammalian animal. Whale sharks inhabit the open waters of all tropical oceans. They feed almost exclusively on plankton and small fishes and pose no threat to humans.

Data suggests that the global population has declined by around 50% in the last 75 years, primarily due to human activity. They are hunted for their meat and fins, they can drown due to entanglement in fishing nets, they can be injured by collisions with ships, and they are sensitive to micro plastics and other types of pollution in the water. There is also concern that the multimillion-dollar whale shark tourism industry might be causing stress on whales that are approached by wildlife-watching tours. In many regions, there are now bans in place to protect whale sharks from being intentionally caught, and there are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), though some illegal trade may still occur.


Fun Fact: These sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning that fertilized eggs are retained inside the mother’s uterus, and pups are born fully-formed, looking like miniature adults.



Rhincoda arrived in Owl Wood in January, 2024, and soon found herself happily swimming in the warm, sheltered waters off the coast of the Worldedge Wetlands. Pisaster and Egretta took her under their wings, making sure she felt welcome, and she made friends with another new arrival, Wave, who spends most of his time in the water, as well. She is still finding her place in our clan, but is sure that she'll be very happy here.