Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) — the world's largest fish — face welfare threats from tourism provisioning, boat strikes, and occasional captivity, while wild populations face ongoing pressure from fishing and bycatch.
Provisioned whale shark sites create tourism congregation through artificial food delivery — sharks that would normally be dispersed across open ocean aggregate in response to artificial feeding cues. This alters natural behavioral patterns and creates dependence on provisioned food that may reduce foraging competence. Boat strikes from vessels approaching too closely cause injuries that heal slowly or not at all in large sharks with deep propeller cuts. The captivity welfare record for whale sharks is poor — they are oceanic animals requiring vast habitat that cannot be replicated in even the largest aquarium. The most welfare-positive whale shark encounters are in wild settings with strict approach protocols, no provisioning, and passive observation of naturally occurring aggregations.