Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Newborn Whale Shark Rescued

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CARACAS, May 18 2009 (IPS) - A newborn whale shark (Rhincodon typus), measuring some 40 centimeters long, was found this month by artisanal fisherfolk off the coast of northeast Venezuela and taken to the Marine Museum of Isla Margarita. “Environmental awareness among fisherfolk leads them to save and bring to the museum any unusual specimen they capture in their nets,” biologist Bladimir Rodríguez told Tierramérica.

The whale shark is the world’s largest fish, measuring more than 12 meters long in adulthood. For 60 million years they have inhabited tropical waters, “and they don’t have parental care, so it is not unusual that the pup was alone when it was found,” he added.

For a few weeks the young shark will be on display at the museum, but as it grows it won’t be possible to keep it in captivity, so it will be released somewhere in the Caribbean Sea.