Whalesharks face increasing risk in the Maldives: Minister

The Minister of Environment and Energy Mr. Thoriq Ibrahim, said that despite the vast economic benefits provided to the Maldives by its Whaleshark population, a large amount of people continue to engage in behaviour that threatens these gentle giants.

In his address marking the International Day for Biological Diversity, the minister revealed that according to surveys conducted by the Tourism Ministry, 33 percent of tourists visiting the Maldives, said that seeing a Whaleshark was at the top of their wishlist.