star.gif (2664 bytes)A Down To Earth Supplement
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                                      No.21,  January  15, 2002
Gobar means animal dung in Hindi. All of rural India uses it in a variety of ways. Ways that exemplify sustainable existence. That's why we use it, too.
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THE WHALE SHARK ...still quite a mystery

Habitat:

Tropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Most often encountered in a band around the equator extending to roughly 30° north and 35° south.

Length:

Can possibly grow up to 18 m, specimens above 12 m are rare.

Weight:

20,400 kg (12 m specimen).

Feeding habits:

Specialist filter feeder on plankton. Uses a special straining mechanism to strain copepods, fish larvae and other nutritious components from the planktonic soup. Sometimes takes small fish such as anchovies, sardines, albacores and small squid.

A whale...no, a shark?
Well, the whale shark is definitely a fish, the largest fish at that.

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The Taiwanese are presently the greatest consumers of whale shark meat. The species is not regularly fished though because its soft white flesh commands a poor market price.

Warm tropical and temperate conditions are optimal for production of the plankton on which the sharks feed. Follows planktonic blooms.

Population in the wild:

Unknown. Naturally rare (low population densities). Their migratory nature makes the estimation of the population size quite difficult.

Lifespan:

Undetermined, but known to be long-lived.

Status:

Endangered. Slow breeding rate, making it susceptible to overexploitation.First fish to be included in the schedule one of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
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whale1.jpg (6380 bytes)Shark fin soup anyone?

dot.gif (88 bytes) Hunted for its liver oil. Traditionally, a few whale sharks were hunted for its liver oil, which was used to waterproof boats. But its flesh was never consumed in India.

dot.gif (88 bytes) Why are sharks valuable?
Because of their fins, used for shark fin soup. A spurt in fin soup demand in the West in five-star hotels has led to overexploitation of sharks. Almost every inch of the whale shark – be it its leather, liver, bones, fins, meat has a value.

dot.gif (88 bytes) The price? Depends on the size. A 25-foot whale shark can fetch up to Rs 1.30 lakh (US$ 3,020) a five-footer may fetch Rs 20,000 (US$ 465 )

dot.gif (88 bytes) Food for thought. The whale shark is a delicacy in Taiwan, where it is referred to as the tofu shark because of its soft, white flesh.

dot.gif (88 bytes) The alternatives? Fishermen who are dependent on whale shark fishing can take up eco-tourism and whale shark watching as alternatives.