Page 29 - World of Animals - Book of Sharks & Ocean Predators

Endangered sharks
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The great white’s monstorous
looks don’t help when it comes
to conservation

Great white

This great hunter is equipped with six senses and rows of sharp teeth
They may be capable of sensing predation, able to reach speeds teeth and jaws are a particularly
a drop of blood in 100 litres of 24 kilometres (15 miles) per popular trading item, and
(25 gallons) of water and even hour with ease. Once they catch their meat is often sold for the
smaller amounts within a five up with their prey, their 300 odd manufacture of pills in Asia. At
kilometre (three mile) radius, but teeth make quick work of the one point there were thought to
the great white is responsible kill. Although the great white only be 3,500 great whites left
for less than half of all shark is feared by many around the in the wild, but there have been
attacks each year, few of which world, it is no less susceptible signs of population growth off
are fatal. They are designed for to hunting by humans. Their the coast of California.

Despite its size, the whale shark
doesn’t hunt big prey – quite the
opposite in fact

Whale shark

The largest living species of fish in the world, the whale shark
can grow to an impressive 12 metres (39 feet) or more

At 18.7 tonnes (2,944 stone), the feeder much like the basking shark. in parts of Asia, particularly the
whale shark chooses to satisfy its Their fearsome size somewhat Philippines, even though the fishing,
massive appetite with plankton. belies their nature, as they are selling and exportation of whale
Swimming close to the surface known for being incredibly docile sharks was banned back in 1998.
they open their formidable jaws fish, sometimes allowing swimmers The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of
and scoop up these tiny plants and to hitch a ride on their backs. In Mexico is thought to have affected
animals, along with anything else in spite of being listed as a vulnerable the population, as the oil lingered
their path. The whale shark is a filter species, they continue to be hunted near the surface where they feed.

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