Whale sharks are slow swimmers, moving at speeds of no little more than 3 miles per hour.

Professional marine photojournalist Mauricio Handler has been capturing wildlife images for decades. It wasn’t until 2007, however, while leading a scuba diving outing in the Galapagos, that Handler, saw his first whale shark.

Several years later he began photographing the world’s largest fish off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, where he sometimes finds schools by the hundreds. Handler’s stunning whale shark images have recently been featured by such outlets as National Geographic and Discover News.

We caught up with him from his current base in Freeport, Maine, to learn what draws him to this magnificent species. While he may spend many more hours in the water with whale sharks than a typical traveler, the emotion he feels when coming upon the species is no different.

WWF Travel: How many times have you swum with whale sharks?
Mauricio Handler: I spend two weeks a year in the water with these giants. I can safely say that every day has been different. Every encounter brings new photo opportunities. You learn to observe after the initial adrenaline rush subsides.

The whale shark is a filter feeder and can neither bite nor chew.

WWF: What are the challenges of photographing whale sharks and how do you manage to capture such incredible images?
MH: These are big animals, and although they are moving relatively slow on the surface, it is crucial to place oneself in the right place at the right time. The only way to do this is to be in the water as much as possible and not come out! This increases your opportunities drastically. It also allows you to observe the fish and learn its motion and emotions, so to speak. These factors are crucial in creating images that go beyond the mere ID photo. You must be there and be ready at all times. There are no second chances in nature.

WWF: Are whale sharks really as docile as people say?
MH: Whale sharks are indeed docile. They are like very large Labradors! They are in no way dangerous to us as other sharks may potentially be, but they are large powerful fish with large fins. It is important to remember not to get in their way while they feed, because they do not stop their forward motion. It is like a slow moving freight train.

WWF: Do you have any tips for people who are planning their first trip to swim with whale sharks?
MH: Get comfortable using fins, a mask and a snorkel. If you are comfortable then you will have great experiences in the water. You do not want to be dealing with gear issues (such as a foggy mask or loose fins) while you have this wonderful animal in front of you!

Observe them as close as you can, watch the tail and never touch or grab them as this will be the end of your encounter and they will avoid you next time around. You must respect their space at all times.

A whale shark’s mouth is at the very front of its head – as opposed to the underside of the head like most sharks.

WWF: What is the biggest whale shark you have ever encountered?
MH: In the Galapagos Islands of Darwin Island I encountered a mature 40-foot plus male. That is one big fish! In Mexico they max out at about 30 feet—still very large.

WWF: Why do continue to go back each season to capture images of whale sharks?
MH: Photographing large gatherings of whale sharks is one of the highlights of my professional career. I keep finding new angles and moments that I want to capture in a photo. It takes weeks, months and sometimes years to be fully satisfied that you have got it all. Then one day, the animals allow a glimpse into something new, fresh and revealing, something you had never seen before, and the obsession begins all over again!

See more of Handler’s photography on his website and Facebook page.

Join WWF on a tour to swim with whale sharks to Mexico or the Philippines.

© Tanya Petersen / WWF-Canon

Next Friday is the last day to enter our 50th Anniversary Photo Contest,
“Life Grows On“, presented by CVS/pharmacy Photo. We invite you to enter up to 15 photos in these three categories:

• Wildlife: Whether a polar bear in the Arctic or an eagle by the shore.
• Wild places: From the mountains to the prairies.
• People connecting with nature: Your favorite people in your favorite places on Earth.

The winner of each category will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two on the Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure provided by Natural Habitat Adventures!

How it works:

   1. Submit your photos from April 22, 2011 through June 17, 2011. There is a $15 entry fee to submit up to 15 photos.
   2. WWF judges will select the top 50 photos in each category by July 1. That means there will be 150 finalists, and each will receive a WWF hat in recognition of their amazing photos.
   3. Fans will vote for their favorite photo from July 2 through July 15. You can vote once per day. And everyone who votes has a chance to win a WWF reusable mug.

Want more information? You can view the complete contest rules and details here.

Blue and gold macaw

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Blue and gold macaws are intelligent and social birds known for their loud vocalizations.

• Join WWF on our November 2011 or March 2012 Amazon Voyage.

More than 1,250 species can be found in India, of which 42 are endemic.

Smooth moves

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The Indian roller is the symbol of several states in India. Males are known for their aerobatic displays during mating season. © WWF-US / Lee Poston

Travel to India with WWF:

• Wild India, December 9-22, 2011, and March 16-29, 2012
• Southern India and the Maldives, December 17, 2011-January 3, 2012 

WWF's photo contest is aimed at raising awareness of species and land conservation issues. © WWF-US / Terry Macko

At WWF, wildlife and wild places have inspired us for 50 years as we’ve worked to protect threatened species, vital habitats and local communities around the world.

But we really want to know: What inspires you?

Share with us the natural things you think are truly precious, valuable gifts that need to be protected today and for future generations.

We recently launched our 50th Anniversary Photo Contest, “Life Grows On“, presented by CVS/pharmacy Photo. We invite you to enter up to 15 photos in these three categories:

• Wildlife: Whether a polar bear in the Arctic or an eagle by the shore.
• Wild places: From the mountains to the prairies.
• People connecting with nature: Your favorite people in your favorite places on Earth.

The winner of each category will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two on the Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure provided by Natural Habitat Adventures!

How it works:

   1. Submit your photos from April 22, 2011 through June 17, 2011. There is a $15 entry fee to submit up to 15 photos.
   2. WWF judges will select the top 50 photos in each category by July 1. That means there will be 150 finalists, and each will receive a WWF hat in recognition of their amazing photos.
   3. Fans will vote for their favorite photo from July 2 through July 15. You can vote once per day. And everyone who votes has a chance to win a WWF reusable mug.

Want more information? You can view the complete contest rules and details here.

Yellow boxfish

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You can tell this boxfish is still young, because its yellow toning is still bright in color. As the boxfish ages, its color will fade.

• Join WWF’s Snorkeling the Raja Ampat Archipelago tour, October 10-23, 2011. Space is limited.

“I went to Iceland in search of the perfect waterfall image to add to my portfolio. I battled fierce weather for days as I circumnavigated the island. Maybe I was too picky, but none of the hundreds of images I had already captured seemed to cut it. As I walked up to the Skogafoss Waterfall, I could hear the roar of the falls, feel the mist across my face and smell the rolling green countryside. Skogafoss was massive and stood before me, perfectly framed for a panoramic shot. My adrenaline surged – I had finally found my perfect waterfall! As I looked at my new photograph, it felt fresh, clean, and pristine – for me everything that embodied Iceland.”

-Dean J. Tatooles, Chicago-based panoramic photographer

• Visit Iceland during WWF’s In the Wake of the Vikings voyage aboard the Clipper Odyssey, July 13-26, 2011.

“But Madagascar is a nature photographer’s dream! Wildlife is everywhere and amazing creatures seem to almost go out of their way to greet and pose for you. That was the case with this diademed sifaka, one of the many lemur species endemic to Madagascar. 

“My WWF colleagues and I were walking along a dirt road in Mantadia National Park, when just 30 meters ahead we spotted this beautiful primate leisurely feeding in a tree on the side of the road. We stopped dead in our tracks and I began to take photos like mad before it had the chance to disappear into the thick forest. Much to my surprise, however, it stayed put. We slowly approached the sifaka until we were just 10 feet away. It remained calm, very aware of our presence but undisturbed.

“I shot 89 photos before we decided to leave the sifaka to its afternoon meal. This image was my favorite.”
-Shaun Martin, Managing Director, Conservation Leadership and Capacity Building

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:

• Eleven leaping lemur facts
• WWF at work in Madagascar
• Behind the Lens: Composing wildlife photos
  

The huge grizzly moves with a slow, clumsy walk, swinging its head back and forth, but it can move as fast as a horse when necessary. © Rick Furlong

“We were walking along the wet, marsh-like grasses and along the shoreline on Katmai for only about 10 minutes when we encountered this male. We were a good distance away from him, and he looked up at us a few times, but he wasn’t interested in us in the least. There were a few other bears just off to the side, outside this frame. A little later on, we saw the bears play-fighting and even saw this male play-mating (or at least that’s what our guide told us!). But check out that hump on his shoulders – it’s huge and all muscle. I would never want to encounter this guy closer up.”
-Rick Furlong

See bears like this one on WWF’s Grizzlies: From Kodiak to Katmai tour, July 25-31, 2011.

Orphaned orangutans are conditioned to return to the wild at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. © WWF-US/Jay Sherman

“One of the reasons I wanted to go to Borneo was to see orangutans — and see them we did! We saw ones of all ages engaging in various behaviors. I like this particular photo, which I took at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, because of the lighting. While it’s easy for humans to project their feelings onto animals, I can only say that if these orangutans weren’t having a great time, then I know little about life.”

-Jay Sherman, WWF

See orangutans on WWF’s Into the Heart of Borneo tour,  June 12 – 28, 2012.