A whale shark passed through the Gulf of Eilat on Saturday, surprising swimmers as it came close to the southern resort city's shore. Stand up paddle boarders and instructors at the Eilat Sailing Club took photographs and video of the 7-to-8-meter (23-to-26-foot) long whale shark as it approached the shore. Whale sharks have previously been spotted in the Gulf of Eilat, usually between the months of April and July due to warming seawater. The whale shark, the largest known fish species, is an endangered species. They are filter-feeders that consume only plankton and small fish, and are not considered dangerous to humans.
