A giant whale shark washed ashore near Karachi fisheries harbor in Karachi, Pakistan on 7 February and was sold for 1.7 million PKR ($18,758).
The 40-foot long shark washed ashore in Karachi, Pakistan, and was lifted from the ground by three cranes. Local residents then bid on the shark, which fetched a price of 1.7 million PKR. The shark was spotted unconscious in the water 10 days ago, and fishermen waited until it was closer before attempting to move the fish.
The whale shark is hunted for its meat, oil, and fins, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. “Populations appear to have been depleted by harpoon fisheries in Southeast Asia and perhaps incidental capture in other fisheries. High value in international trade, a K-selected life history, highly migratory nature and normally low abundance make this species vulnerable to commercial fishing.”
