I also dont understand why some people get more upset by captive whalesharks than they do about captive dolphins. Why not buy the shark from the Fishermen and then release it ? The situation in Taiwan with the whale sharks was that they are allowed to catch a very limited number of them per year, and in this case the aquarium paid for four of those sharks that had been caught. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium was the first to have whale sharks in captivity in 1980. If keeping some creatures in captivity helps educate people so that they help save all the endangered places and creatures, then it is a necessary price to pay. The alternative was that they would simply be eaten- in which case they would be dead and not educating the public about sharks. Despite feeding almost exclusively on plankton, the whale shark is one of the most peaceful creatures in the ocean. There has been much proof on top of dolphins in captivity being harmed, distressed and even dying through the trauma of capture and also other problems and consequences that people just do not want to face up to. Saying the best care available isnt tricky. Despite the fact that scientists estimate that whale sharks can live to be 60 years old, the true lifespan of these gentle giants is unknown. I thought he didnt really give an explanation: they had a theory, but he didnt connect it to the autopsies. The other benefit is always financial who would donate enough money to fund all the research that is needed? (Plus, I never would have seen them.) [19][20], The complete and annotated genome of the whale shark was published in 2017. Note: This ethical debate is a heavily modified re-post of an earlier ethical debate on the old site, which can be found here. The animal rights activists like to say these charismatic captives are lonely, swimming in their own urine, cramped swimming in a bathtub, etc. These whale sharks are better off where they are. The sharks are now alive, healthy, and being used to educate the public about sharks. Although there is always the questionable topic of it being safe to hold these animals outside of their natural habitats I do feel it is sometimes necessary to take a few and maintain them in aquariums to allow people the ability to see and understand the purpose of the species in person. As such, the conditions of captivity may be too restrictive for the whale sharks natural behavior, leading to physical and psychological distress. Yes, its sad that two of the whale sharks died, but does that mean it was a terrible idea to have these amazing creatures in captivity in the first place? Under these circumstances, there is little evidence the Georgia Aquarium is at fault for housing these incredible Sharks. But the Atlanta aquarium isn't the first place to struggle with keeping whale sharks alive in captivity. Another thing I would like to address is the money factor. Education is a hard one, as i said i would love to show my daughter the sharks but i can not shake the bad taste in my mouth. What happens to them after, whether they are sold at the fish market or placed in an aquarium, is irrelevant from a fisheries management perspective. Unless evidence was found a la The Cove that whale sharks are so unhappy in captivity or people would stop freaking finning sharks into extinction, I think they should probably stay where they are. How big are whale sharks? Orcas kept in captivity are thought to live shorter lives than those in the wild; however, this is open to scientific debate. When confined, they are prevented from carrying out natural behaviors, which include roaming up to 100 miles per day, hunting live prey, and interacting with their pod mateswho also suffer when pod members are removed. A Whale Shark by Any Other Name", "A note on the whale shark Rhincodon typus Smith, stranded off Mangalore", "Whale Sharks Have Tiny Teeth on Their Eyeballs", "Draft sequencing and assembly of the genome of the world's largest fish, the whale shark: Rhincodon typus Smith 1828", "Wound-healing capabilities of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and implications for conservation management", "Asymptotic Growth of Whale Sharks Suggests Sex-Specific Life-History Strategies", "Annual Bands in Vertebrae Validated by Bomb Radiocarbon Assays Provide Estimates of Age and Growth of Whale Sharks", "A review of the biology, fisheries and conservation of the whale shark Rhincodon typus", "Size and maturity status of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia", "How large is the world's largest fish? Not to be redundant, but one must consider the small percentage of these creatures that are being put on display for the greater good of the entire species. That would be a bad idea and there is no telling how many whale sharks are dying out in the wild, but they are. [11][51][52] The eggs remain in the body and the females give birth to live young which are 40 to 60cm (16 to 24in) long. Who cares whether a whale shark is gentle? McClain CR, Balk MA, Benfield MC, Branch TA, Chen C, Cosgrove J, Dove ADM, Gaskins LC, Helm RR, Hochberg FG, Lee FB, Marshall A, McMurray SE, Schanche C, Stone SN, Thaler AD. Granny (J2) is and extreme case but she is 99 years old. I realized most of my Twitter friends are like me: white dorks. They are victims of bycatch, the accidental capture of non-target species in fishing gear. Suppose you would like to encounter a whale shark. Yes. Youre anthropomorphizing. Trying to keep the species in captivity before knowing what environmental, dietary and other aspects are crucial sure is a bit stupid, sure, but that does not plant a glory-circle on the head of the animal in question. It seems that they are well attended to but its hard to trust what anyone says. Having a dive program available at an aquarium is a great learning opportunity, but I think it should be limited to those with scuba diving certification; otherwise, the program would be too risky, both for the shark and the diver. Still, scientists have yet to confirm this behavior. Show all. The mystery of the whale shark and its incredible longevity has fascinated scientists for centuries. Taking a potential breeder from the wild removes not only one whale shark from the population, but also the offspring she could produce in her natural environment. [26][9], In 1934, a ship named the Maunganui came across a whale shark in the southern Pacific Ocean, rammed it, and the shark became stuck on the prow of the ship, supposedly with 15ft (4.6m) on one side and 40ft (12.2m) on the other, suggesting a total length of about 55ft (17m). I dont think a fish, even a big fish such as a whale shark has as much of an intellectual sense as say a monkey. And the sharks were saved from their track to a white platted dinner? It was one of the largest gatherings of whale sharks recorded. Is it actually that powerful, having seen it? Too many sea creatures are being fished from coral reefs and our oceans to fill the growing demand to see wild animals up close, through pet shops, tropical fish collections and aquariums. The whale shark was fed with a tube after it seemed to lose its appetite over a period of months last year, said Robert Hueter, director of the center for shark research at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla., who participated in the examination of the shark's body. The tail has a larger upper lobe than the lower lobe (heterocercal). The one thing that I dont agree with about holding animals in captivity is the fact that in most cases we hinder them from their natural instincts. That being said, we must be careful about assigning human emotion to these animals (the same goes for captive killer whales and dolphins). [40] Tracking devices have shown that the whale shark displays dynamic patterns of habitat utilization, likely in response to availability of prey. New research shows there is no difference in life expectancy between killer whales born at SeaWorld and a well-studied population of wild killer whales. The aquarium certainly wouldn't acquire sharks in this way if it effectively encouraged MORE fishing for whale sharks. The more interesting question than how much we need to know about an animal's fundamental needs in order to keep it alive, is whether we should keep it in captivity in the first place. Instead, it swims to force water across its gills. Keeping animals in captivity is a touchy subject. These gentle marine giants roam the oceans around the globe, generally alone. Several of these were already weak from the capture/stranding and some were released,[80] but initial captive survival rates were low. Toggle navigation. I do believe that the whale sharks as a species benefit from the captivity of a few individuals. Holding a whale shark in a highly constraining artificial environment, where it is unable to feed or swim long distances naturally, has been implicated in the early death of every whale shark known to have been held in captivity in other countries. Sightings confirmed that the whale sharks were unable to avoid the oil slick, which was situated on the surface of the sea where the whale sharks feed for several hours at a time. Scientists estimate that the Megalodon would need to consume 98,000 kcal daily to maintain its mass thats 49 times more energy than a human being. NO. My only guess is that they dont know much about the biology of the critters. Leaf-eating monkeys were notoriously short-lived, but animals like the proboscis monkey were such a hit with zoo-goers that replacements for the dying animals were always sought. The Fin whale has an average lifespan of 60 - 100 years. [83] This is unusual because of the comparatively long transport time and complex logistics required to bring the sharks to the aquarium, ranging between 28 and 36 hours. As for calling them "gentle" or calling white sharks "vicious," this is neither here nor there. On the topic of the deaths of the two sharks, I fail to see how a parasite treatment would cause peritonitis, as Im unfamiliar with whale shark medicine (crazy, huh?). I believe that it is acceptable for whale sharks to be held in captivity, as long as they are well taken care of and not showing any signs of distress; especially if keeping sharks in captivity allows people to study them and help the population in the wild. Whale sharks eat microscopic plankton. Whale sharks in captivity face numerous challenges that make it difficult to acclimate and survive. Overall, I think that the whale sharks are being treated right and could thrive properly in the Georgia Aquarium. Please do feel free to try to turn this around on me but take into account a wild animals needs and the needs of those as a species and what that would mean to us. If you encounter a whale shark, leave them alone, give them space, and observe from a distance. Washington, DC 20037. The same study predicted females reaching a length of around 14.5m (48ft) on average, based on more limited data. Visitors will gain a better understanding of the whale shark species if they can observe it in captivity. 2023 World Wildlife Fund. The demand for these sharks was there before there was an aquarium. The Georgia Aquarium staff perform medical assessments on their whale sharks, and they told me that the animals are not stressed. If you want to stop fishing of whale sharks you need to destroy the market for them instead! They are both based on premises I don't accept. I also do not agree totally on the notion that seeing things in captivity live necessarily motivates kids to become something in later life. I suppose youd say Because we dont really need automobiles. [90] Two earlier males at Georgia Aquarium, Ralph and Norton, both died in 2007. Furthermore, the aquarium has specialized feeding requirements and has a large tank, making it possible for whale sharks to swim around in the water. 3. Ideally, the animals would rotate back to the wild (not Taiwan!). [33][34], Scott A. Eckert & Brent S. Stewart reported on satellite tracking of whale sharks from between 1994 and 1996. From Tilapia to Barramundi, these ocean-dwelling delicacies will tantalize your taste buds with unique flavors and textures. As humans, we have to make the decision for this animal. WWF and 1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. Money generated by ticket sales goes towards whale shark research and conservation in the wild, and the aquarium itself is full of excellent signage and enthusiastic volunteers who educate people about sharks. Seeing animals in captivity makes me sad sometimes, however I know that the animals are actually better off in an aquarium where their health and diet is closely monitored. It is very much acceptable for whale sharks to be held in captivity, especially in an environment that takes their best upbringing into great consideration. World Wildlife Fund Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax ID number 52-1693387) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It attracts numerous tourists yearly who want to dive and swim with the gentle giants. 1250 24th Street, N.W. When an animal dies in captivity there are always those who want every animal released into the wild. June 22, 2022. Reminds me of Orr, Yossarians roommate in Catch-22. The Aquarium works closely with world-renowned animal welfare experts and veterinarians to ensure that all animals are healthy and comfortable. But for THESE specific whale sharks I dont see the the ethical error in rescuing them. Alice died in 2021. The greatest tool for astronomers of the past 20 years has, without a doubt, been the Hubble Space Telescope. WWF noted that very young whale shark juveniles" were identified among the 168 individuals spotted in the first half of 2019. Further, as we saw with Finding Nemo, increased exposure of fish can lead to an increased rate of fish-keeping and increased pressure on fish stocks. At least in captivity we know theyre safe as opposed to the open ocean where they are subject to fishermen. non-fatal cookiecutter shark bites in their skin. Two male whale sharks, Ralph and Norton, died in captivity at the Georgia Aquarium on 11 January 2007, and 13 June 2007, respectively. As far as the question on is it beneficial to hold any animal, in this case the whale shark, captive in a aquarium, I have to say in my opinion it is. June 3, 2022 . While I do understand the importance of raising revenue for various research projects, I was woundering is the Georgia Aquarium doing anything to raise funds/ awareness of shark finning, which is one of the major causes of elasmobranch population decline? By sparking the awareness, fascination (funds) for these creatures they are given a greater opportunity for survival in the big picture. The media and animal activists love to dwell in the seeming I told you so stories (such as the death of the two whale sharks) however, seeing how they WERE destined to die before they were even brought to live in the seemingly ample conditions in the first place, it is not as if their lives were extended somewhat anyways. Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T19488A2365291.en, "Descriptions of New or imperfectly known Objects of the Animal Kingdom, found in the South of Africa", "Contributions to the Natural History of South Africa, &c", "Age and growth of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in the north-western Pacific", "Comparing length-measurement methods and estimating growth parameters of free-swimming whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) near the South Ari Atoll, Maldives", "Rhincodon or Rhiniodon? WWF has also placed satellite tags on 29 whale sharks. I guess Ill have to make do diving with sturgeon who suck on my head at the local aquarium. It is getting great care while there. All spend most of their time below 150 feet, rarely rising to the surface to feed. The Georgia Aquarium takes pretty good care of those sharks and I the sharks do benefit from it. "Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna". [25] One study looking at free-swimming whale sharks estimated the age at maturity in males at ~25 years. It is a great learning experience that does not need to go away! [79], The whale shark is popular in the few public aquariums that keep it, but its large size means that a very large tank is required and it has specialized feeding requirements. [36][37] A female individual with a standard length of 15m (49.2ft) (and an estimated total length at 18.8m (61.7ft)) was reported from the Arabian Sea in 2001. They would also be less exposed to danger if they are not released back into the wild. [2] In June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the whale shark as "Migrant" with the qualifier "Secure Overseas" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. The program that the Georgia Aquarium offers is pretty cool. There's something very uplifting about such an enormous animal being so gentle. Well, we sure will if we keep catching them and they keep dying. She seems to have some, I've got a new article in the latest Wired on the science of stress, as seen through the prism of Robert Sapolsky. Visitors can get up close and personal with these gentle giants thanks to the 11 million gallon tank at the Georgia Aquarium, which is the only zoo in the Western World that houses whale sharks. We will begin our first collaborative project studying Northern right whales, Georgias state marine mammal, The aquarium is proud of the research they support. In the Philippines, WWF has identified 458 individual whale sharks since 2007. "An Unprecedented Aggregation of Whale Sharks, "Attempted Whale Shark Mating Caught on Camera for the First Time in History", "Paternity analysis in a litter of whale shark embryos", "Tiny whale shark rescued World news World environment", "St Helena whale sharks cause stir in Atlanta", "Feeding anatomy, filter-feeding rate, and diet of whale sharks, "Microplastics in fecal samples of whale sharks (, Watch Iranian fisherman 'surf' on top of a whale shark across the Persian Gulf, Establishing a quantifiable model of whale shark avoidance behaviours to anthropogenic impacts in tourism encounters to inform management actions, Pictures of the Day: Tuesday, Aug. 04, 2009, Snorkelling with whale sharks in Djibouti, "Global collision-risk hotspots of marine traffic and the world's largest fish, the whale shark", "Memorandum of understanding on the conservation of migratory sharks", Whale Sharks Receive Protection in the Philippines, National Regulations on Whale Shark fishing. They need to be released after that. For and against aquariums: In captivity, their lifespan has been averaged between 10-45 years. They can grow to over 60 feet (18 meters) and weigh over 21 tons, and their diet consists primarily of plankton and small fish. I had always had a fascination about the sea and I was happiest at the waters edge. It simply means give the animal the highest quality care based on the best information possible that you can. There will still be meat in the market. Lily Goldsmith from Valencia CC. We can make a difference by refusing to purchase tickets to these brutal attractions and encouraging local aquariums to create more space for rehabilitating and releasing injured wildlife. [2] Studies looking at vertebral growth bands and the growth rates of free-swimming sharks have estimated whale shark lifespans at 80130 years. I can remember the first time I went on a father daughter trip to see the Baltimore aquarium. I think that, although this whale sharks are not in their native waters they are still be taken care of and do not see a problem with them being held in captivity. Healthy adult . How do you know for certain that the whale sharks were going to be eaten? (I have been within inches of several, and it was definitely an incredible experience.). Avoid the biggest mistake new betta owners make: they dont understand their diet needs. Divers photograph the animal right above their pectoral fins and behind their gill slits. That would have been a better option.! So the question is still how did the other one die. It will end up being a huge lawsuit for the aquarium, so in the long run, I think its better to not have people be able to swim in the tanks. Depleting the oceans of sharks and other animals is wrong and what if we just could not stop? It could very well be a spin story on getting people to accept the fact that the sharks were needed ie taken, for the aquarium. A young female was kept in an outdoor tank for 44 days before releasing her back into the wild. The only part where I have an issue with it is where its too far away for me to visit. The short answer is yes; the problem will be solved if it is done properly. It's probably not surprising that voters aren't rational agents, but it's always a little depressing to realize just how irrational we are. [31], Hugh M. Smith described a huge animal caught in a bamboo fish trap in Thailand in 1919. I visited this aquarium a while back and feel like they are just like every other aquarium. Why wouldnt they? [83] The first attempt of keeping whale sharks in an aquarium was initiated in 1980 by the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (then known as Okinawa Ocean Expo Aquarium) in Japan. Demand for their meat, fins and oil remains a threat to the species, particularly by unregulated fisheries. To me the main point that I was able to gather from the article was the Georgia Aquarium bought the whale sharks to benefit their business first, with the animals concern next. Even if there is no concrete way of actually measuring this. They feed almost exclusively on plankton and small fishes, and pose no threat to humans. [62], The BBC program Planet Earth filmed a whale shark feeding on a school of small fish. [58] The many rows of vestigial teeth play no role in feeding. Now that the laws have changed in Taiwan, I hope to see a change in not just their care of these creatures, but ours as well. I hope that she does the same i do and later in life takes a trip and swims with whalesharks in the wild the way it is supposed to be. Yes, I disagree with the statement "aquariums have to draw visitors." For two to die in such a short time, something is obviously not being taken care of properly. Many never get to see what lies beneath the undulating ocean waves, now millions get an IMAX-type view. I am not happy with report after necropsy. The deepest recorded dive was 1,928 metres (6,325ft), making the whale shark the deepest diving fish to be recorded. Kudos goes to him and the Georgia Aquarium for their passionate work. Captive killer whale populations are a cruel and destructive process that deprives captive orca of their life as well as the ecosystems in which they exist. Out of the 15 individuals tracked, two females were reported as measuring 15m (49ft) and 18m (59ft) respectively. Get your arms around the largest fish in the seawhale sharks weigh in at up to 60 tons. Their skin is dark grey with a white belly marked with pale grey or white spots and stripes which are unique to each individual. The average life expectancy differs by shark species, and sharks in captivity have a shorter lifespan than those in their natural habitat. [38] In a 2015 study looking into the size of marine megafauna, McClain and colleagues considered this female as being the most reliable and accurately measured. No, the Georgia Aquarium does not abuse animals. [72], It is listed, along with six other species of sharks, under the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks. It is able to ram filter feed or can gulp in a stationary position. [16] A 12.1m (39.7ft) whale shark was reported to have a mouth 1.55m (5.1ft) across. Data deficient LC NT VU EN CR EW EX Least Concern Extinct. However, ethical debates arent just about what I think. This is also called passive feeding, which usually occurs when prey is present at low density. I guess that could be too much trauma for the shark once it has adapted to a more domesticated lifestyle. The history of keeping animals in captivity has often been one of a series of failures sometimes culminating in an eventual ability to maintain them for some period of time as new foods, etc. My point on this is that the aquarium is now funding the hunting for and wild capture of whale sharks as well as other exotic animals and thus threatening whale shark population numbers. "We don't know enough about whale sharks to say we can keep them alive for long periods of time in a captive environment," said Jason A. Holmberg, a scientist with the Earthwatch Institute who is studying whale sharks in the Ningaloo Reef in Australia. It seems that the Georgia Aquarium is promoting whale sharks in a positive way by allowing the public to see these huge, magical fish up close. Because they eat plankton and nekton, they are one of the most harmless animals in the ocean, and they have been observed avoiding human contact. The whale shark holds many records for size in the animal kingdom, most notably being by far the largest living nonmammalian vertebrate.It is the sole member of the genus Rhincodon and the only extant member . The longest a great white was held in captivity was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, in September 2004. The Blue whale has an average lifespan of 70 - 90 years. Whale sharks migrate to feed and possibly to breed. [77], This species was also added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2003 to regulate the international trade of live specimens and its parts. I know this is true killer whales, not sure how whale sharks fare. Some scientists believe the Otodus Megalodon could reach up to 24.2 meters, with a mean length of 20.3 meters, and could weigh from 59 to 103 metric tons. Jinta, a male whale shark at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, holds the record for the longest time in captivity, at 20 years and 8 months. Alice, who was one of the whale sharks brought to the Georgia Aquarium, recently died (June 2021) after living there for . ! Id imagine that the Hotel Atlantis would have been able to provide some help, but I do wonder exactly how much is written on the topic. The whale shark is found in open waters of the tropical oceans and is rarely found in water below 21C (70F). That is what it is all about(because it is safer.. are you kidding me??! On the other side of the Pacific, it lives between Australias east coast throughout Northern Oceania islands and up past Taiwan. The whale shark is considered anendangered speciesby the IUCN, a list compromising 3079 animals and growing. The captivity issue is a charged one. Im satisfied with Dr. Carlesons explanation of Ralph and Nortons death. As is the complete butchering of entire wild populations. The whales ate only the sharks' livers and left . But thats probably a different discussion . [2], Seasonal feeding aggregations occur at several coastal sites such as the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, Darwin Island in the Galpagos, Quintana Roo in Mexico, Mafia Island of Pwani Region in Tanzania, Inhambane province in Mozambique, the Philippines, around Mahe in the Seychelles,[40] the Gujarat[40] and Kerala coasts of India,[44][45] Taiwan, southern China[40] and Qatar. While the whale shark is the largest fish in the world today, an extinct species known as Megalodon was once the largest predator on Earth. Both, i am against fishing for sharks and profiting on either their death or capture. The whale shark is the biggest fish and shark in the world. I think that it is important to educate people of the conditions that wild animals are facing, however having the whale shark at the aquarium is very profitable, with such activities as being able to swim with the shark. No problem Laelaps. They have many tiny teeth in their jaw. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest shark, and indeed largest of any fishes alive today. And it is obvious from this interview that a lot of good has come from this particular exhibit. :-(((, I left already a comment about it on Facebook, but i really find it monstrous, and simply unbearable to see these species turning in circle in aquarium!!..:-(. Why are the animals there? In any case, any kid at a young age who KNOWS what he/she wants to do at a later age and actually follows through with that is probably in the minority and is probably going to be ending up that way anyway. "Conservationists round on Chinese whale shark aquarium", "Whale Shark Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828 in Captivity", "Dubai hotel releases whale shark back into the wild", "Resorts World considering alternatives to whale shark exhibit", "Transporting the World's Largest Fish: A Whale [Shark] of a Task", "Madagascar emerges as whale shark hotspot", "Swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines", "Whale Sharks, Whale Shark Pictures, Whale Shark Facts", Whale Shark Photograph-identification Library, Foundation for the Protection of Marine Megafauna, Whale Shark Fact Sheet, Fisheries Western Australia, Albino whale shark photographed in Galapagos, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whale_shark&oldid=1136189804, The size of various whale shark individuals with a human for scale, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 04:47.
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