YouTube user feedinggiants recently shared another episode of “Feeding Giants: The Tuki Chronicles,” which focuses on research team looking at the effects of humans feeding whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) off of Oslob, Cebu, Philippines. Some observations reported by the team included the sharks apparently becoming less concerned with the presence of humans, sharks remaining in the area for extended periods of time, sharks competing at boats for handouts, and sharks remaining at boats after feeding stopped.

The researchers raised concerns about a reduction in the variety of the whale sharks’ diet as a result of being fed a single food source (“uyap”), as well as concerns over a potential decrease in natural migration of the sharks, due to the sharks remaining in the area for an “unnatural” amount of time. The issue of poaching and sharks being less afraid of boats was also mentioned as a potentially negative effect of feeding the whale sharks.