Whale shark washed ashore - east coast India

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Brad Norman:
BERHAMPUR: A whale shark was washed ashore to the Gopalpur beach on Sunday
night.

Despite the efforts of the fishermen to save it, the poor animal could not
return to sea and died on the shore. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus), is a
slow moving filter feeding shark. It is said to be the largest living fish
species. The whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet in length. The carcass of
the whale shark washed to the Gopalpur shore was around 19 feet in length.

Forest officials rushed to the spot to take over the carcass. Large crowd
also gathered to witness the large fish. The Berhampur Divisional Forest
Officer (DFO), A.K. Jena, said it was the second reported sighting of whale
sharks on the coast. In November, another carcass of a whale shark was swept
to the Gopalpur beach by the waves. Mr. Jena contacted the department of
marine biology about these sightings in the area.

The scientists of Regional Natural History Museum, Bhubaneswar, were invited
by the forest department to come over and make studies of the carcass of the
whale shark washed ashore. Mr Jena said till now no major study was made
regarding the presence of whale sharks on the Orissa coast. Only a detailed
study would reveal why two sightings of these animals were found near
Gopalpur coast in quick succession within a few months, he said.

‘No danger’

But there is no danger to humans due to presence of whale sharks in sea as
these animals are harmless. They feed on phytoplanktons, micro-algae, small
sea animals. They have many rows of small teeth which play no role in
feeding. The shark sucks in a mouthful of water, closes its mouth and expels
the water through its gills. Through this process it also sucks in its food
materials.


http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/03/stories/2009020351020300.htm

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