{"sf1_id":null,"sf2_id":"nLr48DAe","title":"A Unique To The Deep Gentle Giant","author":"Apolarbear17","words":438,"posted_at":"2026-01-21T04:34:42.000Z","tags":["Appreciation","Favorite Shark Species","For Shark Week","Gentle Giant","Nature","Poetry","Whale shark"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/nLr48DAe-a-unique-to-the-deep-gentle-giant","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/nLr48DAe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/1e/67/1e67f99d-a1e1-4377-997d-43dff48ab46c","description":"Going back to poems that I think align more with interests around here. This is a poem talking about sharks, specifically whale sharks which are my favorite shark. Originally posted this in August of last year and it was meant for shark week at the time.","content":"\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; **A Unique to the Deep Gentle Giant** \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; **By: A.X. Bueno** \u0026nbsp;  \n  \nSharks are a class of sea creature that I love\u0026nbsp;  \nThere’s one out there though that measures well above\u0026nbsp;  \nConsidering it’s supposed to be the largest fish currently in the sea\u0026nbsp;  \nThe whale shark\u0026nbsp;  \nAlthough there’s more to it than size that captivates and enthuses me  \nAlthough 61 feet and 60 tons at their known largest is quite the benchmark\u0026nbsp;  \nWhat intrigues me more is their diet and how gentle they are and can be\u0026nbsp;  \nBeing so massive yet eating only the smallest things in the big blue sea  \nIt’s a filter feeder eating mainly plankton as it swims carefree\u0026nbsp;  \nIt also eats small fish but not in quite as large a quantity\u0026nbsp;  \nBeing a filter feeder means it’s one of only three\u0026nbsp;  \nIf you’re wondering the other two shark species that stick to eating creatures too small to see\u0026nbsp;  \nThat would be the basking and megamouth sharks which are interesting sharks as well\u0026nbsp;  \nBut back to the whale shark there’s plenty still to tell\u0026nbsp;  \nLike how they’re a tropical fish that can migrate pretty far\u0026nbsp;  \nCapable of migrating thousands of miles in the warm waters for many a reason  \nThose reasons and the way they cross oceans are interesting and bizarre\u0026nbsp;  \nAs well as mysterious considering one of them may be breeding season  \nNot much is known about whale shark mating or where exactly for it they go\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;  \nBut they do give live births being ovoviviparous, that we do know\u0026nbsp;  \nAnd that’s only the barely known beginnings and one piece of their lives  \nWith that said though despite having a lifespan that can go up to 100 years  \nPlenty of whale sharks to adulthood don’t manage to survive\u0026nbsp;  \nTheir pups start small and are abandoned at birth at a disadvantage compared to their born bigger peers\u0026nbsp;  \nThey also birth 300 at once all to have a survival rate of sadly 10 percent\u0026nbsp;  \nNow I don’t want my last lines about these great creatures to be ones that inspire tears\u0026nbsp;  \nThey’ve got unique white spots and stripes that represent\u0026nbsp;  \nA one of a kind style of marking like a fingerprint  \nThey’ve also got those wide mouths that make them so recognizable too\u0026nbsp;  \nAnd I hope it’s now clear why this shark puts in my eye an extended glint  \nThere's plenty here that I’ve already gone through\u0026nbsp;  \nBut with a creature as majestic and captivating as this there’ll always be info anew"}