Kerala Fishermen Release Endangered Whale Shark Back Into Water

A group of fishermen, from Puthiyappa fishing harbour in Kozhikode, are being praised online after a video emerged of them releasing an endangered whale shark, which got caught in their fishing net, back into the sea.

Whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea that can grow up to 40 feet or more in length, have recently been listed as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Whale sharks, the largest of the sharks, is often a victim of bycatch, with adult sharks often getting caught and killed in fishing nets. The Kerala fishermen’s attempts to ensure it was safely returned to the sea is therefore unique.