Although it is imposing due to its size, the whale shark It is a filter-feeding fish and does not represent a danger to peopleA study carried out in West Papua (Indonesia) focuses on the opposite: the injuries these animals suffer due to human activity, especially alongside traditional fishing platforms (bagans) and tourist boats.
The work, published in an international scientific journal, extended over 13 years and used photo-identification techniques to track individuals over time. In the Bird's Head Seascape area, 268 unique copies and it was found that the vast majority of sightings occurred where the bagans operate, an environment with increasing tourist pressure.
Where and how the follow-up was done
Bird's Head Seascape is home to an extensive network of marine protected areas and is a biodiversity hotspotScientists, park rangers, fishermen, and visitors contributed dated and geolocated photographs. Thanks to the photo-identification—the pattern of spots on each shark is unique, like a footprint— a base was built with more than a thousand records to evaluate movements, body condition and the evolution of scars.
The profile of the observed population shows a clear bias: around 90% were males, mostly juveniles 4 to 5 meters long. Adult females are rarely seen near the coast, a pattern consistent with studies indicating that prefer deeper ocean waters and therefore less direct interaction with coastal human activities.
What is causing the injuries
The data indicates that about 77% of sharks registered had visible scars or wounds. Among them, the majority—around eight out of ten—linked to interactions with structures or vessels, not natural predators. Minor abrasions are the most common, but have also been documented deep lacerations, amputations and trauma in a relevant fraction of individuals.
Bagans are platforms lit at night to attract schools of sardines or anchovies. Whale sharks come to feed on leftover bait and are exposed to ropes, nets and sharp elements of the structures. Added to this is the pressure of tourism: excessive approaches, hull impacts and contact with propellers, especially when animals feed within close proximity of moving vessels.
A key pattern from the study is that almost all of the sightings—around 97%—occurred near bagans, which explains the high exposure to damage. In addition, several specimens were photographed in multiple seasons, returning with new or aggravated scars, a sign that the risk is persistent.
Are they dangerous for people?
Everything points to the fact that the whale shark, despite its size, does not pose a threatIt feeds by filtering plankton and small fish, and there are no reliable records of intentional attacks on humans. That's why many nickname it the "gentle giant." The reality is that the risk is reversed: The animal is the one that comes off worst when it coincides with poorly managed platforms and tourism.
What measures do the researchers propose?
The team proposes low-cost, high-impact actions: remove sharp edges of stabilizers and net frames in the bagans, establish safe distances and speeds for sighting, limit the number of boats and reinforce surveillance in critical areas. With clear regulation of tourism and effective controls over platforms, scars could be significantly reduced.
Beyond the local case, the whale shark is listed as a species Endangered on the IUCN Red ListTheir populations have fallen by more than 50% globally—and up to 63% in the Indo-Pacific—and their late sexual maturity, close to 30 years, slows down any recovery. Paper protections are of little use if they are not accompanied by actual fulfillment and adaptive management.
Community engagement has been key to this unprecedented database; however, the authors note that sampling bias may exist and call for more citizen science and coordination between managers, fishermen and tourism operators. Reducing harm involves integrating local knowledge with verifiable standards and continued monitoring.
Protecting the whale shark in West Papua means moving from the fascination of watching it to the concrete action: adapt platforms, regulate tourism, and implement better surveillance. With these measures on the table and sustained involvement from authorities and the community, This leaking giant has real options to avoid further damage and continue to play its role in ocean health.
