Shark A-001, or 'Stumpy', as he is known by local Exmouth whale shark tour operators and researchers, is sighted once again in the Ningaloo Marine Park as he returns for his 12th documented season in these coastal waters. This male, the first whale shark to be 'nicknamed' in the ECOCEAN Library in 1995, owes his name to the prominent scar on his tail. 'Stumpy' is a regular visitor to this part of the reef, returning year after year at the beginning of May. He is renowned with local tour operators for his often close proximity to the reef and slow swimming speed, making him an ideal shark for tourist groups to cruise along in the water (see
http://www.ecocean.org/news.html )
Anyone with whale shark sighting phototgraphs is encouraged to submit these to the global whale shark database at
www.whaleshark.org
