A friendly whale shark was spotted swimming around a fishing boat in southern Thailand.

The 16ft-long marine creature approached the speed boat as it cruised along the water off the coast of Takhia Beach in Trat province on December 8.

It swam on either side of the vessel and sometimes moves in front of the fishermen like it was trying to race them.

Footage shows the whale shark visible underwater a few feet away from the speed boat.

Amused fisherman Atthaphon Somsamsamilert, 25, said: ‘We were heading to the fishing ground when the whale shark appeared.

‘I was so excited because it was a rare moment. Some tourists really look for these creatures but that one casually showed up to say hi.'

The creature swam alongside the boat for almost ten minutes before disappearing back to the depths.

Whale sharks are the world's largest fish that can grow up to 41ft-long. The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently lists whale sharks as vulnerable but could soon be categorised as endangered due to its rapidly declining population.