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WHALE SHARK: ENDANGERED SPECIES DUE TO HABITAT DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Rhincodon typus, hereafter referred to as whale shark, has been listed as “endangered/threatened” by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). An endangered species is defined as “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or significant portion of its range…” Whereas a threatened species is “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Whale sharks’ habitats are constantly being destroyed by the increasing levels of pollution in the oceans as well as by anthropogenic climate change. Their population is also dwindling as a result …show more content…
Millions of gallons of oil was spilled into the ecosystem of the whale sharks during the peak season which lasts May through September. This has resulted in behavioural and physical changes within the whale shark population as well as their displacement. The whale sharks were negatively affected by absorption of toxic dispersants which are used to remove oil. They also had difficulty feeding as many of their food source would not have survived the oil spill or would have been contaminated by it which led to problems with ingestion. Some whale sharks also died as a result of their gills being clogged by oil causing suffocation. These sharks will also experience long term effects on fertility and their immune system from the oil spill. Hence it can be notice that the whale sharks are severely threatened by pollution causing the degradation of their …show more content…
“Proposal: Inclusion of Rhincodon typus in Appendix II. Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties. Nairobi (Kenya), April 2000. Prop. 11.47.” 2000. Online at: http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/11/prop/47.pdf [Accessed October 6, 2014].
• Compagno, L.J.V. “Sharks of the world: An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Volume 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes).” 2002. Online at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/x9293e/x9293e12.pdf [Accessed October 4, 2014].
• Free Dictionary by Farlex. Online at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
• Guardians, WildEarth. "PETITION TO LIST THE Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT." (2012). Online at: http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/Library/PRD/whale_shark/Whale_shark_petition_WildEarth_Guardians_12-18-12.pdf [Accessed October 10, 2014].
• Geddes and Grosset. “English Dictionary and Thesaurus.” 2008
• ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). “Rhincodon typus.” ITIS online database. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Undated. Online at: http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=159857 [Accessed October 8,

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