14 DAY TRIAL // A video shared on Facebook by Marine Connection earlier this week shows a pair of thrill-seekers climbing on the back of a whale shark and turning it into their very own, personal surfboard.
Before you ask, no, nobody knows what they were thinking.
True, whale sharks are gentle giants, and as a rule, they don't pose a threat to humans. They feed on plankton and so diving or swimming alongside them is perfectly safe.
Harassing them, however, is a whole other story. They might be calm creatures most of the time, but given their impressive body size, just one flipper gone haywire can cause severe injuries.
According to wildlife researchers, whale sharks can grow to measure an average 25 feet (7.6 meters). The largest specimen ever caught was 41.5 feet (12.6 meters) long.
So, yes, it's best to let them be and admire them from a distance.
Besides, the International Union for Conservation of Nature currently lists whale sharks as a vulnerable species. One more reason not to harass and abuse them for personal entertainment.
In a message accompanying the video, Marine Connection asks that people who have any idea who these two guys might be contact them or authorities and help bring them to justice.
“Wildlife harassment is never a laughing matter,” the animal welfare charity stresses.