Hannah Mermaid swims with Whale Sharks

Hannah Mermaid swims with whale sharks in Oslob, Philippines. Film by Shawn Heinrichs - ©2012 Photos by Kristian Schmidt Music - ’Crusade’ by Kyrstyn Pixton Whale Sharks are gentle giants, friendly and docile despite their huge size! Less than a decade ago, the local population of whale sharks in the Philippines had been all but wiped out to satisfy demand for shark fins in China. Though legally protected, poaching had continued when shark fin traders enticed poor local fishermen to earn money from exploiting these vulnerable animals. Now finally, local communities have found a way to earn a living from whale shark tourism. Rather than targeting and killing them, the locals are now passionate about protecting them. Mermaid tail created by Hannah Fraser - for more info see FAQ on “Special thanks to Mike Van Daal for creating the extra dorsal fins on my new tail :)“