[80] Their large size and iconic status have also fueled an opposition to keeping the species in captivity, especially after the early death of some whale sharks in captivity and certain Chinese aquariums keeping the species in relatively small tanks. Including live neo-natal specimens removed from the uterus of a pregnant female caught and killed in Taiwan. 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. I do not like animals in captivity just for profit. 2)I have not only been to the Georgia Aquarium, but I have also seen the Killer Whales at Sea World, and in my personal opinion, the whale sharks at the Aquarium live a way better life (in what also seems to be a way better tank). Photo by David Shiffman. My guess is that captive animals are not happy. According to a recent study, living in captivity can cause severe neurosis in some animals, which can lead to depression. I am currently carrying out a study in to whale shark growth rates in wild populations. I commend them for their initial intentions of rescuing these whale sharks. Whale sharks are unique and important animals, but they are under threat. Keeping animals in captivity is a touchy subject. The dive with the sharks program does not tend to phase me so much, and I do not feel it should phase anyone for that matter because these divers arent going into the fish tanks to harm the sharks in any way possible. Did you know that bettas are total cold-blooded savages? Granny (J2) is and extreme case but she is 99 years old. Whale shark meat on a drying rack. Staff at some public aquariums and zoos do publish papers in zoo and aquarium journals. I visited this aquarium a while back and feel like they are just like every other aquarium. [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. Whale sharks are the largest fish species in the world, growing up to 18 meters long, and are migratory animals who can travel thousands of miles in one season. 2015. "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. Its not an overly scientific correlation just because one or two people have that experience. [82] Trixie died in 2020. Also, they have the weight and mass of a school bus, and we are 50-100 kg creatures. The whale shark is, to me, the most beautiful and captivating animal at the Georgia Aquarium. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_whiteshark/whiteshark_ours.aspx. Humans have started considering swimming and diving with whale sharks to be a rewarding experience since they are harmless. The whale shark story also reminds me of the constant attempts to keep a great white in captivity; they always have to be returned to the ocean because they stop eating or keep ramming the walls. I hope happens in more cases of regarding captivity. If you don't know how to take care of an animal, then you can't take of it. The Dive with the Sharks program probably isnt the best if the participants are not going to be fully trained how to interact with the animals. However, to date, apart from a study on 15 deceased specimens in South Africa, all accurate growth data has come from aquariums. In most scientific cases, they are kept captive only as a means of conservation- a shark is adopted in an attempt to ensure its survival, with the intention of releasing it back into the wild. Their presence suggests that the Ticao Pass may be a pupping ground for whale sharks, further increasing the ecological significance of the area. As stated in the introduction/ interview segment, Georgia Aquarium proudly states that their profits received from ticket sales and other things are used for the caring of their animals. Lily Goldsmith from Valencia CC. NOTE: This blog has moved. Due to their advanced age at sexual maturity, it is believed that they may have lifespans exceeding 100 years. [83] The whale shark kept at Dubai's Atlantis, The Palm was rescued from shallow waters in 2008 with extensive abrasions to the fins and after rehabilitation it was released in 2010, having lived 19 months in captivity. The study found an age of 50 years for a 10m (33ft) female and 35 years for a 9.9m male. . I think it is a good idea because it will let people see that sharks are not really killer mechianes like everyone and the movies portray them to be. So, in my opinion, I agree that it is acceptable for the Georgia Aquarium to hold whale sharks in captivity for a couple of reasons: [53], On 7 March 2009, marine scientists in the Philippines discovered what is believed to be the smallest living specimen of the whale shark. In the hypothetical scenario of swallowing a human, its not like the whale shark would gulp the human down the throat, never to be seen again. KEEPING WHALE SHARK IN AQUARIUM IS SIMPLY NON ADEQUATE!!!! Sounds like a good deal to me. [58] The many rows of vestigial teeth play no role in feeding. Sometimes they are accidentally caught in fishing nets or fish traps but are way too heavy for the fishermen to bring up. The stress of captivity can take a toll on their health, and the lack of space and natural surroundings can make it hard for them to adjust. [25] One study looking at free-swimming whale sharks estimated the age at maturity in males at ~25 years. Evidence suggests that whale sharks exhibit sexual dimorphism with regards to size, with males not growing as large as females. 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. [39], The whale shark inhabits all tropical and warm-temperate seas. The whale shark prefers warm tropical waters, whereas the basking shark thrives in colder water, much further north and south. Now that people got to see them at the Georgia Aquarium they feel a larger sense of responsibility in preserving these species. Orcas kept in captivity are thought to live shorter lives than those in the wild; however, this is open to scientific debate. After all, feeding and housing a shark is an incredibly expensive undertaking for a scientist or researcher. Discovery Channel does not do these animals justice. Whale sharks are filter feeders, which means they make a living by ingesting bounties of water and filtering out small animals. When I saw my first whale shark in Galapagos it was the most incredible experience. In the following years, the Monterey Bay Aquarium hosted five more juvenile white sharks for temporary stays before ending its program in 2011. For and against aquariums: For example, saving an animal that is following the path to extinction from being eaten is a relatively good reasoning for placing it in captivity. Again, it is obvious from the information presented in the interview that a lot of good has come from these individuals. Whale sharks are the world's largest fish, measuring up to 45 feet in length and adults weigh about 41,000 pounds. I believe that there are pros and cons to keeping whale sharks at an aquarium; however I do think that some of the pros given in this article require further explanation. lost birth certificate near berlin; whale shark lifespan in captivity. This data, amongst others obtained from captivity, could consequently have a positive impact on our overall knowledge of the biology of whale sharks and therefore may assist in the conservation of the species. Whale Shark | National Geographic If they are fed, the are happy. Sharks in aquariums are certainly well fed. If action is not taken soon, we may only ever watch these majestic animals through a glass barrier. This is the reason given for the excuse to take animals out of the wild and place them behing bars. There was not enough information as to why the second one died. Although, the deaths of Ralph and Norton are tragic their deaths should not be used as an explanation of why this is unethical. . For example in the case of the whale shark, these sharks are feed individually so if they ever were released back into the wild how would they fend for themselves. Do you think that whale sharks as a species benefit from the captivity of these few individuals?. Allegedly, many aquarium fish (for home as well as commercial aquaria) are taken from areas without adequate controls to ensure that the impact on the ecosystem is managed and sustainable. On the heels of In Defense of Animals Ten Worst Tanks list and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, the aquarium appears to be in good standing with the American Humane Association (AHA). [86][87] Marine Life Park in Singapore had planned on keeping whale sharks, but scrapped this idea in 2009. Whale Shark - in Captivity 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. "A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." So, who would argue that these whale sharks should have been Taiwanese dinner rather than being displayed for all of us to see in a healthy supportive environment? Whale Sharks in Captivity | ScienceBlogs [73] In 1998, the Philippines banned all fishing, selling, importing, and exporting of whale sharks for commercial purposes,[74] followed by India in May 2001,[75] and Taiwan in May 2007. For example the issue at hand is that whale sharks are captured for food in Twain. [21], Evidence suggests that whale sharks can recover from major injuries and may be able to regenerate small sections of their fins. Im satisfied with Dr. Carlesons explanation of Ralph and Nortons death. Stationed in boats, Georgia Aquarium animal care specialists feed each shark individually by ladling the food into the water as the sharks swim alongside the boat. I believe sharks should only be held in captivity if its better for that shark and they have a better chance of living longer. [15] Unlike many other sharks, whale sharks' mouths are located at the front of the head rather than on the underside of the head. Well, I'll admit to something of the same emotional reaction but surely the corollary is that there's something nasty and offputting about a great white shark being so cruel? 3. And in many aquariums captive sharks mate on a regular basis. Do we have any idea of what it means to keep captive a migrating animal like a Whale Shark? First, does the shark know its held captive? The tail has a larger upper lobe than the lower lobe (heterocercal). They need to be released after that. Alice, who was one of the whale sharks brought to the Georgia Aquarium, recently died (June 2021) after living there for . Average Life Span In The Wild: 70 years . When we have to force feed our enclosed animals, something has gone very wrong. When he says The whale sharks at Georgia Aquarium were taken out of that quota does he mean that the sharks were taken as part of that quota or the sharks that were caught and sold didnt count for the quota? [11][60][61], The whale shark is an active feeder, targeting concentrations of plankton or fish. If no-one can see sense on this, maybe they should stop acting like they know better and research on animlas, conservation, bio-diversity and the need that animals have in the wild that can not be met in captivity. I would rather an animal be naturally distressed in the wild from encountering a natural reaction from having been chased by a predator or falling from a tree.. than to be unnecessarily distressed by captivity and the problems that it brings, such as loud humans; machine noise; bubbles in tanks; chlorinated water; human toxins (from skin, lotions and plastic); small living areas; restriction of movement and the need to migrate or breed; dying early and then replaced, much to the publics ignorance of this occuring; lack of companionship; trauma of capture and relocation and the list goes on. There are few aquariums around the world where whale sharks can be seen, but they are sometimes seen in their natural habitat. The whale shark has three prominent ridges along its sides, which start above and behind the head and end at the caudal peduncle. 6)The dive with the sharks program is amazing. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Outside of Asia, there is only Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, USA, which started importing whale sharks from Taiwan in 2007 and is currently holding a few. [80] The record for a whale shark in captivity is an individual that, as of 2021, has lived for more than 26 years in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium from Okinawa Ocean Expo Aquarium. Do they presently have one? By taking photos and cataloguing them, WWF has identified 458 different whale sharks in the Philippines. Andy is right in saying we need to stop with the anthropomorphic descriptions of how these animals are feeling. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. As a result, we as humans can make a positive difference in the lives of our ocean friends by saying no to captivity and allowing injured wildlife to be rehabilitated and released. 5)Although the explanations for Ralph and Nortons deaths are not very straight forward, I am satisfied with the answer. The annual quotas are hard; where the sharks end up doesn't matter. They are victims of bycatch, the accidental capture of non-target species in fishing gear. The idea of confining any creature for our profit and amusement is abhorrent and arrogant. Aquariums have to draw visitors, but most do so to fund research and conservation activities. They inhabit shallow and deep water, corals, reefs, and lagoons. It seems to me that once an animal is brought into captivity, the likelihood of the animal being released back into the wild again is slim. The average blue whale grows to lengths of 80 feet, whereas the average whale shark is only 40 feet. If you are scared of this fish, realize that they swim slowly and wont actively try to feed on anything close to the size of a human since it cant consume them. Feeding occurs either by ram filtration, in which the animal opens its mouth and swims forward, pushing water and food into the mouth, or by active suction feeding, in which the animal opens and closes its mouth, sucking in volumes of water that are then expelled through the gills. 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. As an exotic pet hobbyist, my attitude is that, as long as you can give an animal the absolute best care available, you can keep it, and as a conservation-minded person (being a 3rd semester bio major doesnt really afford me the right to say conservationist) I say as long as it was caught sustainably, you can buy it. 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? Do you think that whale sharks as a species benefit from the captivity of these few individuals? were tried. For many people, aquariums offer them their one and only chance to see what species are out there in the seas. The people from South-west England who own/lease an island in Africa near the congo and rehabiliate gorillas from a young age back into the wild, with success, are much better to be honest than those who like a whale shark, an animal with strong wild instincts to be locked up in unnatural conditions. if nothing is understood.??? The aquarium seems to think they did a good thing by taking the shark from the Taiwanese quota. I dont know if Ive ever seen (or heard of) a fish demonstrating happiness or sadness for that matter. Even with the best of intentions, it is not possible to recreate the ocean environment in an aquarium, and this could have consequences for the health and wellbeing of the whale shark. Whale sharks migrate to feed and possibly to breed. [56], The whale shark is a filter feeder one of only three known filter-feeding shark species (along with the basking shark and the megamouth shark). 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.
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