Whale Shark

Why in news?

• Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has launched the ‘Save the Whale Shark Campaign’ along Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.

More about the news:

• Save the Whale Shark Campaign is launched by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) along with Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
• To reduce and eradicate whale shark death in the incidental catch in fishing nets by the voluntary release of the whale shark.

About Whale Shark:

• The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish on Earth and a keystone species in marine ecosystems.
• It can grow to a length of approximately 18 metres and weigh as much as 21 tonnes.
• They are ovoviviparous
  • They give birth to live young rather than lay eggs – and can reach sexual maturity at around 10 years old.
• It is distributed widely across tropical and warm temperate seas.
• The whale shark is distributed all along the Indian coast. However, the largest whale shark aggregation is along the Gujarat coast.

Status:

• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• IUCN Red List: Endangered.

Threat:

• The main threat is accidental entanglement in fishing nets. This can result in mortality.
• The only way to curb such mortality is to ensure the release of the entangled whale sharks from the fishing net without any delay.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Whale Sharks’:

1. They are not naturally found in tropical waters

2. They are listed as endangered in IUCN Red List

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer