Dead Whale Shark Recovered From Gopalpur Beach

February 3, 2009

Release from: Orissa News

Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Berhampur: The body of a big whale shark was recovered from the sea at Gopalpur on Monday. The local fishermen found the giant fish, locally known as the Baghua Timi, floating along the coast on Sunday at informed the concerned department.

The forest department officials, including DFO A Jena and ranger DN Tripathy rushed to the area. The male fish is about 18 feet length and 1,000 kg weight with 3-feet long head. It is being preserved at the Gopalpur coast. The officials of the Natural History Society from Bhubaneswar would observe the big fish in order to find out the reason behind its death, after which it would be buried. The fish is known to be dangerous for the small species of fishes and dolphins. A source adds that the fish had been killed by a fishermen’s net. However, it possesses the ability to tear the net and even break hard metals. According to the local fisherman, the fish might be died owing to the injuries sustained from any ship.