Whale Sharks Stranded On The South Coast Of Lumajang

Babinsa shows a spotted whale shark stranded on the coast of Selok Anyar Village, Pasirian District, Lumajang Regency, Monday (3/7/2023) afternoon. (ANTARA/Personal Document)

The spotted whale shark (Rhincodon typus) was found stranded dead and several parts of his body damaged on the south coast of Selok Anyar Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java.

"The carcass of the leopard whale shark was first discovered by a resident named Pak Topan while fishing on the southern coast in Krajan Hamlet, Selok Anyar Village, Pasirian District on Monday (3/7) afternoon," said the Village Development Officer (Babinsa) of Selok Anyar Village, Serda Firdaus, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 4.

The whale shark carcass was carried by sea waves to the coast of Selok Anyar Village and found dead with several parts of the body damaged, such as upper fins, left fins, and tails, while the right fin is still intact.

"We, together with the Fisheries Service, the Pasirian Police have visited the location. The shark is estimated to be 3.5 meters long, weighing about 700 kilograms," he said.

Officers also secured the location where the leopard whale was stranded so that it would not become a spectacle for local residents, then the carcass was buried on the shoreline.

"The condition of the sea waves on Monday (3/7) afternoon tides, so it is not possible to carry out burials yesterday. Today (4/7) we together from other agencies carried out the burial of spotted whale sharks," he said.

However, officers still pay attention to sea waves to be able to bury the shark carcass this Tuesday, but it is certain that the carcass is buried.

The leopard shark is one of the protected animals based on the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries No. 18 of 2013 concerning the Determination of the Full Protection Status of Whale Sharks, so it must be preserved.

If the shark is stranded alive, it must be returned to the habitat in the sea and if stranded on the beach in a dead state, it must be buried.

In the past year, several times the carcass of a leopard whale shark has been stranded on the southern coast of Lumajang Regency, such as on Wotgalih Beach, Yosowilangun District, some time ago.