Whale shark numbers in Australia are benefiting from a new ecotourism program, it has been revealed.
A study published in the Ecological Society of America suggested that more whale sharks are returning to the Ningaloo Marine Park each season.
The research revealed that around two thirds of the sharks were repeat visitors, reports the Herald Sun.
This follows the sighting of the 1,000th whale shark off the coast of Mozambique by researchers.
Ecocean project leader, Brad Norman, told Reuters that the spotting of the whale shark, a rare and threatened species, was "a major milestone for science and conservationism".
Meanwhile, a 3.5 meter bronze whaler shark has been spotted in the vicinity of swimmers in Palm Beach.
However, Palm Beach surf club captain Jeremy Black insisted there was little chance of an attack.
"I've never known a bronze whaler to attack a swimmer. They're reasonably common on the northern beaches particularly around Newport. We get one or two swimming in looking for fish each year," reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
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