Whale shark (Rainkodon Typus) is found in tropical and warm temperate marine areas Between 30 degrees north latitude to 35° south latitude in such oceanic regions, where the temperature is about 21 °.
They are found in deep shallow coastal areas. They are generally 5.5–10 m in size. They do not eat meat like other sharks. They filter seawater and feed on small plankton, so they are also called filter feeder sharks.
It is the largest mass threatened fish species, their number has decreased by more than half in the last 70 years.
Currently they have been listed as Endangered in the Red List published by IUCN and there is a danger of them becoming critically endengered in the next 5 years.
In the year 2001 they were included in Schedule-1 of Wildlife Protection Act-1972. it is known that India ranks second among shark fishing nations.