Note to the Media:

Please feel free to use these photos within the context of articles and/or press releases about Iemanya Oceanica and its conservations activies. Thank you.

Corresponding Press Released: "Shark Tagging Expedition deemed a Toothy Success"

Media Contact 1:  Laleh Mohajerani 310-801-9478    310-801-9478
Media Contact 2:  Patty Civalleri 310-384-5664   310-384-5664

This is a 16-foot juvenile Whale Shark who lives in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. Here she is shown with her mouth wide open in order to catch a large amount of plankton from the warm Baja waters. Unlike an actual whale, a whale shark has no baleen that acts as a sifter. Instead, she sifts her food through her large gills. The two spots that you see above her mouth are not eyes; they are her nose. Her eyes are way down on each side of her head. See the black dot toward the right side of the photo? That's her eye.	Whale Shark open mouthed                Photo by: Luke Inman
Dr. Rachel T. Graham of the Wildlife Conservation Society of Belize demonstrates how a 'Spot' tag works. This is the tag that gathers the data for scientists and researchers to use for further study. We then take the data, translate it and put it on our websites so that kids, teachers and shark enthusiasts can learn more about them.	Photo by:  Patty Civalleri 1-Take MultiMedia
3 public volunteers from Southern California are snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez. Here they have encountered a 9-foot whale shark. They are humbled by her gentleness, size and grace. After all, aren't sharks supposed to be fearsome? Not whale sharks! These beautiful creatures are slow-moving surface dwellers which makes them prey to overfishing and to boating accidents.	Photo by:  Patty Civalleri 1-Take MultiMedia