What would be happening to them if they were not there? The pair went on a killing spree last week, attacking and killing at least 17 broadnose sevengill sharks in a single day (February 24, 2023). I do believe that the whale sharks as a species benefit from the captivity of a few individuals. Do we have any idea of what it means to keep captive a migrating animal like a Whale Shark? I think they are one of the most amazing fish that have ever existed. Do you think that it is acceptable for whale sharks to be held in captivity?. . These gentle marine giants roam the oceans around the globe, generally alone. Was it because of old age or something else. The Bowhead whale has an average lifespan of 100 - 200 years. [46], In 2011, more than 400 whale sharks gathered off the Yucatan Coast. She's a Christian, but isn't afraid of sex. Are you satisfied with Dr. Carlsons explanation of the deaths of Ralph and Norton? I think that whale species as a whole benefited from the captivity of Ralph and Norton because they allowed more exposure to their species and many people were able to see them up close and personal and were able to learn more about them.Before people either saw them on magazine covers or if they were fortunate enough to travel to places where whale sharks lives. As such, Im dubious about the sustainability of keeping wild-caught fish of any kind. You disagree with the statement "aquariums have to draw visitors"? Sharks Are Not Ideal Pets 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. While Doctor Carson and his team of scientists have their theories on why Ralph and Norton died, I have mine on why a whale shark in the wild died; how about the trash that your cruise line dumped over board. Historically, techniques such as comparisons to objects of known size and knotted ropes have been used for in-water measurements and may suffer from inaccuracy. 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. 2023 World Wildlife Fund. Dr. Hueter said it was possible the shark's stomach had been punctured by the feeding tube. I think there needs to be a way to get the word out on the subject to get more people in these aquariums. But how long do sharks live? Speak up for species and places through WWF's Action Center. 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. 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? I love whale sharks. I also think the interview with Dr. Carlson was great! You dont want to eat, Read More How Long Does Cooked Fish Last in the Fridge and Freezer?Continue. In ram filter feeding, the fish swims forward at constant speed with its mouth fully open, straining prey particles from the water by forward propulsion. For example the issue at hand is that whale sharks are captured for food in Twain. Each one of us can remember at least one visit to a zoo or aquarium during our childhood. Whale sharks live in tropical and warm oceans all over the world. I completely agree with you that it was a good thing that these whale sharks were bought from fisherman in Taiwan. [91], In Madagascar, whale sharks are called marokintana in Malagasy, meaning "many stars", after the appearance of the markings on the shark's back. Why wouldnt they? My side is with those who do so. Millions are taken legally every year, millions more illegally by finners. There is no question in my mind that aquariums are good for the ocean. On the other side of the Pacific, it lives between Australias east coast throughout Northern Oceania islands and up past Taiwan. Conservation efforts may help protect them, but it is difficult due to the many threats. They are not the ones to blame; they have taken the proper procautions in order to make sure they were taken care of. Although the deaths of the two whale sharks are still ambiguous, I am satisfied with the explanation. Even though I didnt understand the exact cause of Norton and Ralphs death, I believe that whatever was found will help the future lives of other whale sharks that are captured. Since these two sharks were bought from the fishery they would have been bush meat, so they were imminently better off at Georgia Aquarium. Would this situation be different if it wasnt a shark whale? 1)If the two whale sharks were not saved by the Georgia Aquarium, they would have been on someones plate in Taiwan long before they passed away in Atlanta. In addition, the Georgia Aquarium works hard to educate the public about aquatic life and conservation, while also engaging in research and conservation efforts. :-(((, 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!!..:-(. tinisoli, they may have "saved" that particular shark, but by paying well for it fishermen are encouraged to go out and capture more of them. The animal rights activists like to say these charismatic captives are lonely, swimming in their own urine, cramped swimming in a bathtub, etc. I am sure that the aquarium did all that they could. I also do not agree totally on the notion that seeing things in captivity live necessarily motivates kids to become something in later life. [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. The whale sharks are obviously being taken care of and monitored. By and large I think the less animals in captivity the better. I do not think that there is an argument that these sharks would be better off had they been left be eaten. They show true interest in this particular fish and I feel that they truly want it to not only be a fascinating experience for visitors, but also a learning experience. 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. We'll have to see how the other three sharks do. The average life expectancy differs by shark species, and sharks in captivity have a shorter lifespan than those in their natural habitat. These unique, black sieve-like structures are presumed to be modified gill rakers. WWF works to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife, collaborating with partners from local to global levels in nearly 100 countries. In the following years, the Monterey Bay Aquarium hosted five more juvenile white sharks for temporary stays before ending its program in 2011. Its all about balance, and right now there is no way to hit the nail on the head, if there is no real experience ( a human characteristic the senses) associated with it, so Aquariums are still important features in a society. Join us to make change. . Then yes, the sharks were better off inside Georgia Aquariums walls. Menu. 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. We consider the whale shark a harmless filter feeder, eating small fish and plankton. 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. Whale sharks in captivity face numerous challenges that make it difficult to acclimate and survive. If one were to take the view that captivity is wrong in all manners, then he would oppose all aquariums and zoos. whale shark lifespan in captivity. For example, I am a visual learner, so the combination of reading the information about the animal provided on the sign with the presence of the animal reinforced what I had just read. What exactly is the source of your outrage here?. They dont have great whites at the Georgia Aquarium. [93] The whale shark is featured on the reverse of the Philippine 100-peso bill. The study found an age of 50 years for a 10m (33ft) female and 35 years for a 9.9m male. I like that people can see whats in the ocean up close; a lot of people do not have the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive, and it can be hard to see things even if you do! For wild females, up to 81 percent reach sexual maturity (15 years) and up to 75 percent achieve menopause (40 years). Hypothetically, a whale shark can swallow a human, but it has never happened as far as we know. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_whiteshark/whiteshark_ours.aspx. Also, if these particular whale sharks werent in captivity, they would be dead now. These denticles serve to protect the eye from damage, along with the whale shark's ability to retract its eye deep into its socket. However, standing at the oceans edge does not compare to the excitement and discovery I experienced at the Baltimore aquarium. To work around this, Ioworld has a special practice in place. [48], Growth, longevity, and reproduction of the whale shark are poorly understood. When they reach a length of 5.5 meters, they are then released back into the ocean where they came from. I have recently seen Sammy the whale shark in the Atlantis Hotel Dubai and its a disgracemany articles you can read about it on the web ! To guarantee an optimal life development in captivity, it is important that aquariums or any place that keep sharks fulfill these conditions: 1. They will always state that their animals are happy and their needs are met. mr rosson royal surrey hospital. I completely agree with what the aquarium has done and see no ethical faults. Thanks for the clarification. I can see both sides to the debate. [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. The appreciations for the ocean that can be birthed inside the walls of an aquarium are priceless. I realized most of my Twitter friends are like me: white dorks. Demand for their meat, fins and oil remains a threat to the species, particularly by unregulated fisheries. I'll have to agree with Scott, above: if whale sharks are "gentle" then white sharks must be "vicious killers", Orcas must be "Hunters of the Sea" and so on? We recommend this over visiting an aquarium, as many whale sharks have failed to acclimate to life in captivity and died. Associated ecotourism has grown rapidly to unsustainable levels. Overall, as long as the fish that are captive are treated well and kept healthy, I think this is a great idea and it educates people who are interested but dont have the funds or resources to actually see any of these fish. I would not now go to a zoo and stand there, looking at whale sharks or lions and think, Hey, that animal looks so powerful and amazing behind that glass, so big and beautiful. And to also think and feel that it belongs there for me to look at, often for an hour or two, once every couple of months or so? Amys back from Peace Corps now, Ill see if she wants to road trip out there. You get my meaning. Are you satisfied with Dr. Carlsons explanation of the deaths of Ralph and Norton?. Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium in North America home to whale sharks, the biggest fish in the ocean. I have no idea of whether keeping a Whale Shark is OK or not. Once again I do not like animals being held in captivity unless it is in order to help them health wise. Average Life Span In The Wild: 50 to 80 years Size: 23 to 32 feet Weight: Up to 6 tons Size relative to a bus: IUCN Red List Status: ? The shark was too heavy to pull ashore, and no measurements were taken. The program that the Georgia Aquarium offers is pretty cool. 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. Get your arms around the largest fish in the seawhale sharks weigh in at up to 60 tons. The alternative was that they would simply be eaten- in which case they would be dead and not educating the public about sharks. We need to learn more about these fantastic creatures. [82] Trixie died in 2020. While new discoveries are made about the Universe, a new explorer finds its way on a foreign world, and the world bids farewell to a legend, my old, The Lab Leak Theory Was Dismissed As Trump Xenophobia - Now Deniers Say It Was Not Accepted Because of Trump Xenophobia, DAN5/P1: Homo Erectus Early Cranial Capacity Was More Like Australopiths Such As 'Lucy', DART Made A Big Difference In Ability To Accurately Calculate Asteroid Deflections, The Subsidies Paradox: Affordable Food Versus The Environment, Degrowth communism as asolution for climate change, How the US Government Chose to Ruin the James Webb Space Telescope, and Blamed NASA. Whale sharks are filter feeders, which means they make a living by ingesting bounties of water and filtering out small animals. Posted by: Category: Uncategorized . I actually think it is great that there are individuals out there that are interested in engaging themselves with the sharks and getting a closer look at shark activity in the water. 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. The length of the specimen was said to be between 11 and 12m (36 and 39ft), with a weight of around 15,000kg (33,000lb). How are people at the Georgia Aquarium able to save the whale shark population from becoming food? if aquariums consider keeping a whale shark for only a year or so, and replacing it back into the wild to live a normal life? I believe that the aquarium investigated to the best of their abilities. 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? However, ethical debates arent just about what I think. And whale shark tourism presents a threat to the species as it can interrupt their feeding and sharks can be injured by boat propellers. I do not believe that the unfortunate deaths of these two animals is any reflection of the morality of having them in captivity. Having a high-profile animal like a white shark or a whale shark could justifiably be called a necessary evil, but it needn't always end with a dead fish. 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. 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? They bought the shark from fisherman. And as shark hunting in Taiwan being illegal, i dont think it would be all to hard to find shark pochers and polititions turning their heads there. [68] Younger whale sharks are gentle and can play with divers. According to the Chief Science Officer at the Georgia Aquarium, the whales receive proper care for their health and they are well fed; therefore, I think that it is perfectly acceptable for them to be held in captivity, in this case. It definitely gives insight on the Georgia Aquarium! 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.