Story Behind This Mural
In the Cancun region of Mexico, whale sharks have become an increasingly popular summer tourist attraction, when hundreds of the ocean’s largest fish gather to feed. Individuals and families flock from all over the world to catch a glimpse of these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Despite international protection status, and communities such as Cancun demonstrating that these animals are worth much more alive than dead, whale sharks are listed as an endangered species due to destructive human impacts such as overfishing and the global demand for shark fins. In 2016, their classification was escalated from threatened to endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Focus
Whale shark conservationTake Action
Help conserve shark populations by:
- Refraining from consuming shark fins and meat
- Purchasing cosmetic/health products that don't contain squalene (shark liver oil)
- Avoiding pet food that list 'white fish' as an ingredient as it likely is shark
- Supporting responsible shark tourism operations and experience the animals in their natural habitat