August 30 has been declared as the International Whale Shark Day by the host of the Second International Whale Shark Conference, National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), Mexico.
- The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the world’s largest fish species. Celebrated globally, this day highlights the importance of conserving these gentle giants and their habitats.
About whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
- The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the world’s largest known fish species.
- It is not a whale but a species of shark.
- It is included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972, which renders the capture and killing of the fish a cognisable offence. It’s akin to killing a tiger.
- Listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whale sharks have been hunted for years for its fin and liver for commercial trade, while oil from the fish was used for water-proofing wooden boats.
- International trading of its parts is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wildlife Protection Act of India.
- In the 2000s, alarming incidences of slaughter of this species was reported from the Gujarat coast. At that time, the Wildlife Trust of India launched a massive campaign to bring about conservation awareness to fishers in in Gujarat.
- On the East Coast, the Kakinada coast in Andhra Pradesh is one of the major landing zones for whale sharks.
- Despite conservation efforts, the whale sharks continue to face challenges primarily due to bycatch and accidental capture in fishing nets, illegal hunting and habitat degradation.
