Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Sperm Whale Alley, Batticaloa
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks are occasionally encountered in the open water between shore and the deep-water escarpment off Batticaloa, particularly during the March to May transition as seasonal plankton blooms driven by northeast monsoon-end upwelling attract these filter feeders to the surface. Encounters are unplanned and brief — a fin or dorsal shape spotted from the boat, then an opportunistic water entry — but the absence of regular tourism pressure in this area means individuals are unhurried and tolerant. Each whale shark carries a unique spot pattern on its flanks that allows individual identification; sightings here should be submitted to the Wildbook for Whale Sharks citizen science database.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Whale Shark is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.