Washington Post. . Botubarani, a small village in Indonesia, has become popular for its highly accessible and close-contact whale shark sightseeing. Conservationists, however, worry about the harm that human interaction can cause to the endangered specie

The village of Botubarani in Indonesia has emerged as a popular destination for whale shark sightseeing, offering tourists highly accessible and close-contact encounters with the animals.

Conservationists have expressed concern that the increasing human interaction with whale sharks in Botubarani may cause harm to the species, which is classified as endangered.

The rise in tourism around these gentle giants has sparked a debate between local economic benefits and the need to protect the vulnerable whale shark population.