Here's why:
* Water Temperature: Whale sharks prefer warm tropical waters. The Delaware River is a freshwater estuary, and its water temperatures are much cooler than what whale sharks need to survive.
* Habitat: Whale sharks are pelagic creatures, meaning they live in the open ocean. The Delaware River is a relatively shallow and enclosed body of water.
* Diet: Whale sharks feed primarily on plankton and small fish found in open ocean environments. The Delaware River doesn't offer the same abundance of these food sources.
While it's exciting to imagine these massive creatures in our rivers, they are not a common sight in the Delaware River or any freshwater environments.