Whale Sharks in the Maldives draw in an awful lot of tourists

A small group of whale sharks in the Maldives is proving more popular than anyone could have imagined.

On their own, the majestic creatures living in a single Maldivian atoll – a ring-shaped chain of islands formed of coral – account for nearly 3% of global tourism devoted to sharks, a study shows.

The whale shark is the world’s biggest fish, reaching lengths of 40ft (12.2m) or more. Despite its appearance, it is a gentle giant that preys on nothing larger than shrimp-like plankton.