Evacuation Stranded whale shark in Indonesia

Photographer: Adi Prima

Title: Evacuation Stranded whale shark in Indonesia

Location: Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Period: 05/2022 - 05/2022

Category: Environment

The death of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) occurs almost every year in the coastal areas of West Sumatra Province.
"For 2022, this is the first incident at Kincie Salido Beach, South Pesisir Regency," said BPSPL Padang Conservation Analyst, Hendrisman, Wednesday (5/25/2022).
Previously, similar incidents had also occurred in 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021 on the coast of West Sumatra.
Hendrisman said that the stranding of the whale shark on the beach was thought to be due to extreme weather changes. But there is also the possibility of illness. "We cannot confirm this for the incident at Salido Beach," Hendrisman explained.
The whale shark, which is known to be 6 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, was initially found by residents on Tuesday morning, May 24, 2022. The whale shark was stranded on the beach because it was carried by a fisherman's trawl. Residents then tried to save it by pushing it into the sea, but were unsuccessful and finally the whale shark was stranded again and died.
"At first the whale shark was still moving. Then the residents took it to the sea again. But it stranded again," said the Wali Nagari Salido, Evilindo.
A number of residents tried to pull the whale shark carcass with a rope. The absence of heavy equipment to help lift the whale shark carcass made it difficult for residents to move it.
Residents then agreed to cut the whale shark's body into several parts and then bury it not far from the location where the whale shark was stranded.

Evacuation Stranded Whale Shark

A whale shark Rhincodon typus stranded on the beach of Pesisir Selatan Regency in West Sumatra Indonesia on May 25 2022 The 6-metre long whale shark found off the coast has died after being caught in a fishing net

Evacuation Stranded Whale Shark