A jaw-dropping video filmed off the coast of Abadan, in the Persian Gulf, has gone viral after showing a man leaping from a boat onto the back of a whale shark — the largest fish in the ocean.
The clip, first shared on the OSINT X account, captures the moment the man dives into the sea, swims towards the giant creature, and grabs its dorsal fin as if it were a dolphin. To the shock of onlookers, he then hauls himself onto the whale shark’s back and even begins clapping and dancing while riding the gentle giant.
The whale shark, known for being harmless filter-feeders that eat plankton, appears calm and unbothered as it continues gliding through the clear Gulf waters. However, not everyone was amused. Viewers online slammed the stunt, with one user writing: “That’s terrible. Whale sharks are gentle and non-threatening creatures. Why is he harassing that amazing animal?”
The incident, reportedly filmed in 2023, has since sparked a heated debate on social media about wildlife harassment and the dangers of treating wild animals as props for viral stunts.
While some viewers were stunned by the spectacle, others pointed out the serious risks: both to the man and to the protected species, which is already listed as endangered.