Florida teen goes for wild ride on back of 30-foot whale shark [VIDEO] - Science Recorder

Whale sharks are not considered to be a threat to humans, but would you swim with them? Nineteen-year-old Chris Kreis did just that when a whale shark the size of the 30-foot boat he was fishing in swam up to him in the Gulf of Mexico. As his friend videotaped the experience from the boat, Kreis jumped into the water and swam alongside the giant animal, eventually grabbing its fin and hanging on for about 20 seconds. "When I started holding on I felt the whale shark it started moving itself, it felt the drag and it didn't really want me on there so I let go and that's it," Kreis told NBC2. He also saw some bull sharks in the area, one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean, so he headed back to the boat quickly, Nature World News reports. Kreis and his friend posted the 30-second video of the encounter on YouTube, where it has received more than 275,000 views. Whale sharks are rare but not protected by any kind of act or legislation, so it is legal to swim with and ride them. However, marine biologists do not recommend doing so because whale sharks, while typically non-aggressive, can still be dangerous to humans. They are very large animals (scientists estimate that the shark Kreis rode weighed 50,000 pounds) and can inadvertently injure a swimmer. Whale sharks also use a filter-feeding system, straining out water to consume plankton and small fish for their meals. The system is similar to the one used by baleen whales. Whale sharks populate all tropical waters and typically migrate to the west coast of Australia in the spring. Several local companies host whale shark tours and swimming sessions for avid shark fans who might be interested in swimming with the docile animals while under supervision. While whale sharks might not harm swimmers, it is possible that swimmers can harm whale sharks. Riding the sharks is not illegal, but it may harm them, marine biologist Bruce Neill explained to NBC2. The whale sharks are covered by a slime that they need to stay healthy. When a human applies pressure to the fish when holding on to the fin, he can actually remove that slime, leading to potential health complications for the shark. Kreis says he was unaware of the potential dangers to the shark from his joyride and admits that he would definitely jump in again if given the chance, but notes that he would avoid touching the shark to limit his impact on the world's biggest fish. Experts continue to track whale shark migration patterns and recommend GPS tracking to better understand the rare gentle giants. via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGDMuX5WT3s3yU-kK1Xr_YzWPAryQ&url=http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/florida-teen-goes-for-wild-ride-on-back-of-30-foot-whale-shark-video/

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