Netizens fear that an endangered baby whale shark which was filmed apparently frolicking in Sai Kung waters yesterday has been captured and killed by humans.
Footage of the young fish measuring around four metres long, swimming alongside a boat, was uploaded to Facebook yesterday afternoon. Hongkongers shared the video widely on social media, marvelling at the rare and friendly creature.
Some humorously remarked that “something must be going on with the weather” if the endangered species was seen in Hong Kong waters.
However, in the early hours of today, an image of a similar looking whale shark on the floor of a boat of some kind was circulated by netizens, sparking fears that the elusive animal had been caught.
It has not been confirmed whether the fish in the photo, which was reportedly posted to a closed Facebook group for local fishermen, is the same one from the video.
A spokesperson from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department told Sing Tao that no reports of a whale shark had been made to them. They added that the species is rarely spotted in Hong Kong, with a handful of sightings since 2008.
The whale shark is categorised as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and “vulnerable” by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Regrettably, the whale shark is not protected under existing Hong Kong law, despite being protected in many different countries across the world.
With their wide mouths and status as the largest fish in existence (they can grow up to 10 metres long!), they may look intimidating, but whale sharks are not known to be dangerous to humans and feed almost exclusively on plankton. Their size and friendly behaviour have won them a reputation as the “gentle giants” of the sea, but their populations are threatened by commercial demand for their meat, fins, and oil, according to the WWF.
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