The Reserve Belize, a luxurious retirement community created by Eco-Futures Development, is dedicated to promoting an eco-conscious and sustainable lifestyle. Life at The Reserve Belize provides ample opportunities for enjoying a diverse range of activities such as boating, hiking, kayaking, river rafting, and watching migrating whale sharks that visit Glover’s Reef and the Belize Barrier Reef. Here are a few things to learn about whale sharks.
1. They do not use their teeth to eat. Whale sharks feed on plankton, krill, small fish, and squid which they filter through their 3,000 small teeth, rather than biting. They also take plankton in through their gills as nourishment.
2. They live a similar lifespan to humans. Whale sharks live between 70 and 100 years and sexually mature around the age of 30.
3. They are born small and grow very large. Whale shark pups are born between 16 and 24 inches long and can grow as large as a school bus.
4. They are an endangered species. While the global whale shark population is unknown, it is believed to be endangered as a result of vessel strikes and the impact from fisheries.
