Oh gosh! That is truly an amazing sight. From what I've read, the Okinawa aquarium currently houses 3 captive whale sharks.
The pictures in this thread could surely seem controversial and could attract a lot of flaming.
Let's look at the situation objectively and put this into perspective from an environmental standpoint. No doubt it seems cruel to keep such gargantuan filterfeeders in captivity because of their sheer size and pelagic life habits. The space they are in limits their growth rate to some extent. Moreover, the lifespan of such captives ranges from a few days, to a few years - the longest on record is 10 years held by the Okinawa aquarium. The lifespan of whalesharks in the wild are estimated to be 100 years or more.
However, the apparent cruelty may overshadow the scientific work behind keeping these majestic creatures in captivity. Scientists are now able to collect data on the animals very easily - information that may lead to more successful efforts towards its conservation. It also serves to educate the public and raise awareness on the plight of sharks in the wild.
To put this into perspective, many more whale sharks and manta rays are caught and killed by fisherman as bycatch and are not used for consumtion except for the whale sharks' fins. It is for us to decide which scene is more palatable - whale sharks on display or whale sharks on the dinner table?
