The five meter long carcass of a juvenile male whale shark was found on the Baga beach in Panaji, India. Its dorsal and tail fin had been cut off. However, it is not clear whether it had been targeted by fishermen at sea, gotten caught in their nets or washed ashore due to other factors. Witnesses speculate that it had been alive upon stranding due to its fresh condition. Before burial at an undisclosed site, a post-mortem has been performed though the findings have not been disclosed yet.
The forest department has requested the Calangute Police to investigate the case as speculations arose that the fins might have been cut off after the animal stranded on shore. An activist explains that “the fins may have been cut to extract oil”. Forest department officials promised to look “at the matter from all angles”.
Whale sharks are the largest fish species and are classified as highly endangered. They are known to inhabit the open waters and are rarely seen in coastal areas.
The articles covering the case can be found here https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/mutilated-carcass-of-whale-shark-washes-up-on-baga-beach/articleshow/75190407.cms and here https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/investigate-beached-whale-shark-incident/articleshow/75212506.cms
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