hand feeding whale sharks

No fish in the wild should be fed by men, especially not to generate tourist $$.

Whale Sharks are to my way of thinking are strainer feeders, meaning that they only feed on small micosophic sea creatures............................... I know of tours where you can swim with them, but feed them?

the whale sharks eat shrimp. the fisherman in oslob in previous times tried to scare them away because the fishermen wanted to collect the shrimp

of recent times the fishermen have been hand feeding the whale sharks in the hope of encouraging the creatures to remain there as they have realised that attracting tourists is a far more profitable proposition.

Oslob whalesharks

http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/cebu/oslob-whalesharks-butanding.html

snorkelers and scuba divers

http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/cebu/whale-sharks-scuba-and-snorkeling.html

I spent about a few weeks there just observing. The crowds were huge on the Chinese New year - last Monday.

as gregs3071 says the sharks are fed shrimp

• very small shrimp - smaller than krill

the water seems to be having more plankton now than a few weeks ago -

This is becoming a major tourist destination and the sanctuary managers are tightening up the rules. No touching at all of whalesharks is allowed

...even for facebook pictures!

dp

ps there very little accommodation in the area

low quality YouTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEpsc80jG_o&feature=related

dp

ps there was even a helicopter there today

accommodation is not really necessary when it's only 2 & half hours from cebu city - it's an easy day trip

helicopters? - sounds like it has gone ballistic there almost overnight

right you are gregs3071

...but backpackers that arrive later in the day by Ceres bus will sometimes be disappointed that there might not be any rooms available in the area and will have to scramble to find something

...the helicopter was a MLHullier , I have only seen one so far

...as you say - it can be a day trip

...best to avoid weekends - big crowds

dp

as someone who is about to head to the phillipines, with this high on my list, i need an opinion!

should i be trying to see the sharks in donsol or oslob? other suggestions? i wont be feeding them dont worry!

Are not these wild?..............................Why try and turn them into something that esle, let them be!