Whale shark found dead on Yarada beach on Visakhapatnam coast

A whale shark, approximately 15 feet long and weighing around three tonnes, was found dead on Yarada Beach in the city. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department dispatched a team to perform a post-mortem examination on the carcass on Friday.

According to local residents, the whale shark might have been washed ashore after getting entangled in fishing nets. It was alive when a group of fishermen found it omn the beach. They tried to push it back into the sea, but to no avail.

“The shark whale was buried after a post-mortem examination was performed on the carcass as per the guidelines,” Visakhapatnam Divisional Forest Officer Ravindra Dhama told The Hindu on Friday.

Another whale shark was found dead on Rushikonda Beach in February 2022.

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) principal scientist Joe K. Kizhakudan said the shark whale that was washed ashore at Yarada looks like a juvenile.

“Whale sharks are the largest fish alive on earth. During winter, when the water off the South African coast turns colder, the fish move out to feed on reef habitats. During these movements, they occasionally get hit by propellers or ships or get entangled in drifting nets. Shark whales are harmless and docile. They are not very alert. They have a poor sense of sound. Their massive bodies make it difficult for them to get away once they are trapped,” Mr. Kizhakudan explained.

Whale shark is listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List as its population has declined by more than 50% in the last 75 years, primarily due to targeted fishing and collisions with large ships, Mr. Kizhakudan said.

Whale sharks live in tropical oceans. They are rarely found in waters below 21 °C (70 °F). Their lifespan is estimated to be between 80 and 130 years.