Whale sharks, the gentle giants of the ocean, are fascinating creatures, and their approach to caring for their young is equally intriguing. However, it’s important to note that whale sharks are ovoviviparous. This means that instead of traditional parental care as seen in many mammals, the young are born live from eggs that hatch inside the mother’s body.
After mating, a female whale shark can carry fertilized eggs in her uterus for several months. During this gestation period, the embryos develop inside the eggs while still within the mother’s body. When the time comes, the female will give birth to live young, which are often around 16 inches long. This process significantly reduces the risk of predation on the young, as they are born fully formed and capable of swimming away from danger almost immediately.
Once the baby whale sharks are born, the mother doesn’t provide any further care or protection. The young sharks are left to fend for themselves in the open ocean. They must quickly learn to navigate their environment, find food, and avoid predators. Although parental care is nonexistent in whale sharks, the reproductive strategy of birthing live young helps ensure a higher survival rate for the offspring in their early lives.