Whale sharks are highly valued on international black markets for their meat, fins and oil, and this means that they are becoming a species targeted by poachers.

There is such little information about whale shark populations that it's hard to determine their status. However, what is gathered from data that is available, we know that whale shark conservation efforts are desperately needed.
If things continue as they are at the moment, the whale shark is at risk of becoming extinct, and we would lose one of the world’s most gentle giants.