Swimming in the presence of a 50ft, pregnant whale shark is one of those encounters that will stay vividly with me for the rest of my life. She emerged silently from the depths and slowed as she passed by, contemplating us with calm curiosity. Some scientific models suggest whale sharks can live up to 130 years of age and do not reach maturity until around 30 years. This beautiful, bus-sized female had likely spent decades migrating across the oceans between her feeding and breeding grounds. Her eyes had a wise gleam, and she swayed gently enough through the currents to accommodate a row of remoras hitching a ride on her tail. Moments like this serve as a humbling reminder of just how little we understand our ocean’s wildlife and encourage me to stay one hundred percent focused on our conservation mission. #internationalwhalesharkday #shark #whaleshark #galapagos #galapagosislands #conservation #gratitude