Giant Whale Shark Washes Ashore

On: 11.52 By: Andreansyah Dwiwibowo 6 comments

A giant whale shark washed ashore near Karachi fisheries harbor in Karachi, Pakistan on Feb. 7 and was sold for 1.7 million PKR ($18,758), local media reported.

Fishermen in the Pakistani port of Karachi got more than they bargained for Tuesday as they reeled in one of the biggest fish in the sea: a whale shark.

The Express Tribune, a Pakistani newspaper, reported that the 40-foot fish was first spotted ten days ago in seas about 150 km (93 miles) from the city. Mehmood Khan, the owner of a local fishery, said the shark was unconscious at that time and other reports said that it was found dead Tuesday.

A large crowd gathered as a succession of cranes were brought in to lift the shark on to the pier. After several hours and a number of failed attempts, the leviathan was finally brought ashore and promptly sold for 1.7m Rupees ($18,750).

The whale shark was added to the World Conservation Union's list of threatened species in 2008.

Residents gather as a whale shark is pulled from the water by cranes after it was found dead at Karachi's fish harbor February 7, 2012. A giant whale shark washed ashore near Karachi fisheries harbor on Tuesday and was sold for 1.7 million PKR ($18,758), local media reported. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

A man stands on a dead whale shark before it was pulled from the water by cranes as residents gather at Karachi's fish harbor February 7, 2012. A giant whale shark washed ashore near Karachi fisheries harbor on Tuesday and was sold for 1.7 million PKR ($18,758), local media reported. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Cranes pull the carcass of the whale shark from the water on Feb. 7, 2012.

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