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ENDANGERED WHALE SHARKS |
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by Alesandra Ibobo | 31-05-2018 15:36
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Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest known fish species found in open waters of the tropical ocean with warm temperature. It is measured at about 5.5 to 10 meters long, and weighs an average of 18.7 tonnes. The fish specie has been in existence for about 60 million years old or older. Whale sharks are deep blue with pale to white patterns of dots.
The whale shark can be found in Canada, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Philippines, Mozambique, Brazil, Benin, DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysia and Dar es salam in Tanzania. The whale sharks can be seen swimming along abundant portion of plankton as it feeds a lot and eats while moving. It feeds on little fishes, fish eggs and sperms, krill's, crab larvae by opening its mouth while swimming towards the largely gathered fishes sucking in large volumes of water and fishes at the same time and releases the excesses through its gills. The whale shark does not pose any threat to humans since it has been seen swimming occasionally while ships are on motion and in some parts of the world humans catch a ride on its fin. However humans and human activities pose a threat to the existence of the whale shark. Whale sharks have reportedly died through injuries sustained from propellers while it collides with ships and other times from oil spillage in these oceans. Since the whale shark feeds through passive feeding mode which is described by it sucking on foods, it is one of the animals affected by illegal dumpings of plastic wastes. These animals feeds on fishes, water and sometimes plastic wastes which swims into its mouth and causes its death. Whale shark has been valued for its liver as the liver oil is used for automobile oil and lubricants in ships, cars and other vehicles. Most times whale sharks die as a result of exhaustion from being in captivity. Most villagers in certain countries like in Asia and Philippines lay traps for plankton and other little fishes and crabs in regions where the whale sharks are found. Since it is found in such regions, along with the plankton, the whale shark is caught around stays in the nets for sometime struggling to be released and in the process is exhausted even before the fishermen gets to find it, some dies before being released while others used for their meats or sold to pharmaceutical companies for drug production.
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5 Comments
Hello Alesandra
By reading this report I've learned that sharks and other ocean creatures could die by getting in the ship's way. It would be nice if ships could manage to have blueprints that can either hide their propellers from hurting or a contain brand new technical ways that won't be needing propellers.
Thanks for the report :)
Posted 01-06-2018 20:57
Hello Alesandra, whale sharks have often been misunderstood by people for its name : 'shark' means a bit scary and not friendly to us.
Whale sharks are rarely caught in East Sea or South Sea of South Korea, too.
I once read short news article about their deaths and pursuit of prey to eat them often lead whale sharks to get caught into fishing net.
However, this is more to do with krill shrimps' number decrease.
Its continuous decrease make whale sharks hard to survive and so on.
Hope this world's largest mammal can survive well within our attention and protection effort!
Posted 31-05-2018 19:51
Thanks for the information.
Posted 31-05-2018 19:10
thank you Alesandra for you hard work you've done! I really appreciate you work
Posted 31-05-2018 17:57
Hi Alesandra!
These Sieve feeders are among the many that look harmful, but in actual fact, are not. Luckily, there are conservation and protective organisations present, fighting the good fight to keep this species alive. My favorite being 'ECOCEAN', they have been successful in contributing to the protection of this species both internationally and nationally.
I do believe that more needs to be done.
Thank you for the report!
Lovely work!
Posted 31-05-2018 17:15