KOTA KINABALU: A short TikTok video showing a whale shark spotted off Bongawan, a coastal town in the Papar district about 70km south of Kota Kinabalu, has recently sparked lively discussions on social media.
The two-minute clip shows the gentle giant calmly feeding on food offered by an individual who recorded the event, surprising viewers and drawing fascination over its close interaction with humans.
Some netizens suggested that such encounters could one day become a seasonal attraction for the area.
However, while some may find feeding whale sharks harmless or entertaining, marine experts have cautioned that such actions can negatively affect the species and the surrounding ecosystem.
Associate Prof Dr Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto, head of the Coastal Connections Living Lab at the Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, reminded the public not to feed whale sharks or any wildlife.
“One main reason is that feeding can disrupt the natural behaviour of the fish,” she said.
Manjaji-Matsumoto said whale sharks are legally classified as an endangered, threatened and protected species in Malaysia.
She highlighted the case of Oslob in the Philippines, where feeding practices altered the sharks’ natural migration patterns and made them reliant on human-provided food.
“With repeated sightings in Sabah waters, it’s important to keep interactions natural and minimal to protect both the species and its ecosystem,” she added.
Whale shark sightings in Sabah are not new.
In April 2020, local fishermen near Bongawan were surprised when a whale shark appeared close to their boats, prompting authorities to advise against feeding the protected species.
In April 2023, several whale sharks were spotted over two consecutive days near Pulau Gaya and Bungaraya Island Resort, followed by another sighting in the same area in April 2024.
In October 2024, a whale shark made a rare return to Pulau Pom-Pom in Semporna after nearly a decade, identified by its distinctive markings.
More recently, in March this year, a viral video of divers disturbing a whale shark and a sea turtle near Pulau Manukan sparked public outrage and renewed calls for greater marine conservation awareness.
