This tragic endangered whale shark has died after becoming stuck in a fishing net before being chopped up by fishermen for its meat on the beach.
The startling images were taken in the municipality of Uribia in the La Guajira department of Colombia.
Local media report an unnamed foreign citizen informed the authorities that fishermen were cutting the rare whale shark (Rhincodon typus) up on the beach for its consumption.
In the photos, locals can be seen with knives cutting the whale shark open, with the huge mammal having a fishing net stuck around its fin.
One local fisherman told reporters: “The animal was still panting but due to its weight the men were impossible to return it to the seawater.”
The Autonomous Corporation of La Guajira released a statement on social media saying: “It was determined that it is an incidental fishing incident, as the animal got tangled up in a net used for the traditional fishing arts of communities in Guajira in their daily tasks, which caused its death.”
It is unclear if the animal beached itself or was brought into shore by the fishermen.
The whale shark is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to the impacts of fisheries, bycatch losses, and vessel strikes, combined with its long lifespan and late maturation.
Non-governmental organisation Plataforma ALTO said they believe the whale shark being caught was a case of intentional fishing. The whale shark was young and about five metres in length, according to reports.
The average size of adult whale sharks is estimated at 9.8 metres (32 feet) and 9 tonnes (20,000 lb). The whale shark does not represent a danger for swimmers as they feed on plankton and small fish.
Netizen ‘Yuyu Makina Soto’ commented: “Good fishing enjoy it.”
While ‘Sandy Pinilla’ simply added: “Idiots.”
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Angjela Trajkovska, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
