In the village of Tan-awan, on the southern Philippines island of Cebu, whale shark sightings along the shore have become a prime tourist attraction.
It was not always this way.
Giant whale sharks typically swim through warm, tropical waters alone. Within the past couple of years, the gentle sea giants have been drawn to Tan-awan's coastlines in large numbers by fishermen who hand-feed the sharks with krill.
The practice has created a lucrative business opportunity for local fishing boats that have started whale shark watching tours, but sparked outrage among environmentalists who say the feeding technique is unnatural and could change the animals' migratory and eating behavior.
Meanwhile, as many as 300 tourists a day visit the town in hopes of getting an up-close experience with the marine beasts.
Tam-awan is a coastal town in Oslob, located on the Southern Philippines island of Cebu.
Travelers come to this tropical location expecting to swim with and feed whale sharks, the biggest fish and shark in the sea.
Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long, or roughly the size of a school bus.
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