GEORGE TOWN: A lone whale shark has been spotted near Pulau Kendi off the south of Penang island.

       The whale shark, the largest species of any fish, was sighted by a group of fishermen, where one of them recorded and posted the video, which was later shared on several Facebook pages.

       In the 1-minute and 53-second video clip, the non-mammalian vertebrate was caught swimming near a boat, and came nearer to the surprised fisherman before it swam past underneath the boat just below the surface.

       In the video, the fisherman could be heard saying in awe how big the fish was and how lucky one of the first-time crew of the boat was able to see the whale shark.

       It is believed this is the first sighting of the gentle giant reported this year.

       Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies senior lecturer Dr Leela Rajamani said the species also known as rhincodon typus is harmless to humans and is a seasonal feeder.

       "They are filter-feeders and their diet is krill and planktons," she said when contacted.

       She said the species are seasonal feeders and mostly are deep water habitats.

       She said the fact that the shark was sighted in the waters off Penang was most probably due to the plankton season.

       She said whale sharks could grow up to a maximum of 18m in length and weigh up to 15 tonnes.

       International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has listed whale shark as endangered due to impacts of fisheries, by-catch losses, and vessel strikes, combined with its long lifespan and late maturation.