There’s been a rare marine event off North Stradbroke Island. A visit from one of the ocean’s gentle giants, a whale shark. Divers managed to film the encounter, only the second sighting in the past decade.

Jack Gramenz reports.

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A gigantic five metres but still just a baby.

This juvenile male is a rare sight on the east coast.

Dr Kathy Townsend, UQ Moreton Bay Research Station: “It appears not only the whale sharks but also manta rays are being lured in to these warm coastal environments so it really is a special interaction to be able to spend time with animals such as this.”

Adult whale sharks can grow to up to 12 metres in size, but despite their stature, they’re docile creatures.

They’re more commonly seen off the coast of Western Australia.

It might be nice to imagine swimming with whale sharks off Stradbroke Island, but marine life is still under threat from ocean pollution.

Up to 80% of it is made up of things like this.

Down the coast at Currumbin, Sea World marked World Turtle Day by releasing an endangered Green Turtle to highlight the effect of ocean rubbish.

Marnie Horton, Sea World Curator of Fish: “It can actually cause quite nasty damage externally and obviously if it goes internally it can pretty much mean death for that turtle.”

Isabella was found washed up on Currumbin Beach three months ago, but after a lengthy rehabilitation, she was back in the water today, fending for herself.

But not like these tiger sharks captured by a drone off the coast of north west WA.

A pack of 70 tore a whale carcass to pieces with tourist boats only metres away from the frenzy.

Jack Gramenz, QUT News.