In the case of whale sharks, no captive environment is likely to ever recreate the essentially limitless expanse of the ocean. I think they did, too. The same study predicted females reaching a length of around 14.5m (48ft) on average, based on more limited data. Image credit: NASA; view from the Space Shuttle. 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. [92], In the Philippines, it is called butanding and balilan. They are not the ones to blame; they have taken the proper procautions in order to make sure they were taken care of. If every animal should be in captivity than in the wild for safety.. well I think the human race will really have gone too far I destruction and messing up the eco-systems of the earth. While I cant say that I am completely satisfied with the deaths of Ralph and Norton because Dr. Carlson did not really give a complete description of the treatment that they were doing in the aquarium where Ralph and Norton were kept. Its reasonable to extrapolate that this trend might apply to aquaria as well. [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. Whale sharks are protected from fishing in many countries these days, but are in decline in some areas. The Frontal Cortex is now over here. They have a long muzzle and sharp fangs designed to, Over at Sciam's Mind Matters, Melody Dye has a great post on the surprising advantages of thinking like a baby. I have no idea of whether keeping a Whale Shark is OK or not. I thought he didnt really give an explanation: they had a theory, but he didnt connect it to the autopsies. They dont have great whites at the Georgia Aquarium. The Georgia Aquariums whale shark exhibit is unique and I see no harm in its existence. 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? We continue to work to ensure whale sharks stay safe during the frequent interactions they have with people and tour boats.As whale shark tourism is very popular in Mexico, we educate tourists on codes of conduct for swimming with sharks. Despite the fact that research is still ongoing, we do not know a lot about the gentle giants that have existed millions of years before. Dr. Carlson paints a very different picture of the aquariums relationship with whale sharks than that of the animal rights activists. Do you think that it is acceptable for whale sharks to be held in captivity?. deliveroo architecture; strontium citrate pros and cons People who visit the aquarium and learn about whale sharks often donate money to aquarium-run and Taiwan-based conservation and education efforts. ?Raising any kind of awareness thru Aquariums is simply non existant, ludicrous and hypocritical..Nonhuman mammals have NO place in anything BUT their natural environment. All rights reserved. Speak up for species and places through WWF's Action Center. Like human fingerprints, whale sharks have aunique pattern of spotswhich allow individual sharks to be identified. The equipment is properly managed and sanitized by aquarium staff, it seems necessary safety precautions are upheld, and I believe it further increases revenue and education. were tried. The Bowhead whale has an average lifespan of 100 - 200 years. . For the first time I was actually seeing what l had only imagined rested below ocean waves. It uses quick bursts of speed to ambush its favorite prey seals and sea lions. Evidence indicates the pups are not all born at once, but rather the female retains sperm from one mating and produces a steady stream of pups over a prolonged period. They need to be released after that. The only part where I have an issue with it is where its too far away for me to visit. Both, i am against fishing for sharks and profiting on either their death or capture. It can be seen that they were taken care of and monitored regularly, and due to this regulation there are clear theories to the reasons of the sharks deaths. Killer whales born in captivity [ edit] The majority of today's theme-park Orcas were born in captivity: 33 out of 56. [59] This is an extremely efficient filtration method that minimizes fouling of the filter pad surface. Blue whales eat krill and small fish, whereas whale sharks eat plankton and small fish. Well as us humans, I think its our responsibility to protect these sharks when other people tries to harm or kill them. Whale sharks eat microscopic plankton. 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. Whale sharks are unique and important animals, but they are under threat. I believe that the procedures shown and followed by the workers and volunteers at the Georgia aquarium are very professional, and as long as all whale sharks are kept in the same condition, I believe it is perfectly acceptable for whale sharks to be kept in captivity. Including live neo-natal specimens removed from the uterus of a pregnant female caught and killed in Taiwan. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The context of the film is explained when it dives into the orca attacks, the most recent victim being Dawn Brancheau who was killed by Tilikum in 2010. I DONT THINK SO. I think there needs to be a way to get the word out on the subject to get more people in these aquariums. [12], Pupping of whale sharks has not been observed, but mating has been witnessed twice in St Helena. The remaining population of whale sharks is estimated to be somewhere between 120,000 and 240,000 in the wild. [10][11][12] Whale sharks have very large mouths and are filter feeders, which is a feeding mode that occurs in only two other sharks, the megamouth shark and the basking shark. Do you think that it is acceptable for whale sharks to be held in captivity? For these sharks that would have been food, I am sure they are satisfied with where they have ended up. [23] Whale sharks exhibit late sexual maturity. We need a better understanding of what it means to various animals to be captive. To work around this, Ioworld has a special practice in place. (And it's worth pointing out that this. [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). As long as there is a profit to be made, there will always be poachers. But I think it's pretty clear that whale sharks don't belong in aquariums: A young whale shark that sank to the bottom of its tank at the Georgia Aquarium this year and died had been forcibly fed for months, a practice that may have punctured its stomach and caused an infection that led to its death, scientists said Wednesday. Wild female orcas live an average of 50 to 80 years. I am sure going to do my best. Read More Best Betta Fish Food Options: What Do They Eat?Continue, Quick Interesting Facts about Flying Fish: Flying fish have evolved and adapted well to their environment, possessing large eyes that help them spot predators from afar and allow them to escape quickly with their unique, Read More Flying Fish Facts, Habitat, Classification & FAQContinue, Deep sea fish can be an absolute delight for your tastebuds! Why not buy the shark from the Fishermen and then release it ? From Tilapia to Barramundi, these ocean-dwelling delicacies will tantalize your taste buds with unique flavors and textures. Overall, I think that the whale sharks are being treated right and could thrive properly in the Georgia Aquarium. Sometimes they are accidentally caught in fishing nets or fish traps but are way too heavy for the fishermen to bring up. [3] I think as time goes on, the dive with the sharks program will be stopped, I think that there is more risk then there is benefit, although these people who swim in the tanks are trained and briefed about what they can and can not do, I think there is still the possibility that one of these huge sharks could attack, or one of the swimmers provoke it, and the swimmer is killed. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. The aquarium certainly wouldn't acquire sharks in this way if it effectively encouraged MORE fishing for whale sharks. Ive seen fish in US mail-order catalogues which are very difficult to find in the areas that they are from and appear scarce. On the other hand, the fact that the whale shark has been seen by so many people is great for educational purposes and many more people are interested in saving the species. The oldest reported female is 40 years old. In general, the topic of keeping particular animals in captivity is relative. Even if there is no concrete way of actually measuring this. "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. I love the idea of knowing that they are in the ocean swimming freely, but if it wasnt for the Georgia Aquarium I may have never stumbled upon how fascinating these fish are. The benefit of people seeing these animals to science and conservation far outweigh the sacrifices made by these particular captive animals. Someone needs to do a proper study on the subject. Did you know that proper fish storage is essential to keep it fresh and taste good? Its skin can be up to 15cm thick and is very hard and rough to the touch. 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. Their feeding behavior is more characteristic of whales than sharks, which is how it got its name. Whale sharks live in tropical and warm oceans all over the world. [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. Dr. Carson generously supported his response to the deaths of Ralph and Norton, and assured us that these deaths were not in any way correlated to maltreatment in the aquarium, so yes, I am satisfied with his statement. It is able to ram filter feed or can gulp in a stationary position. They are filter feeders, passing water through filter pads to feed on plankton and small fish. My posting, "Texting As Killer, As Savior" generated strong interest and I wanted to share some more compelling graphic designs from Dr. Robin Landa's Wiley Student Advertising Design Challenge, "Texting and Driving Don't Mix." The Georgia Aquarium takes pretty good care of those sharks and I the sharks do benefit from it. All animals die at some point, and mistakes can be made without realization, so I dont think the Georgia Aquarium was to blame for the recent deaths of a couple whale sharks. For and against aquariums: There's something very uplifting about such an enormous animal being so gentle. But thats probably a different discussion . Diet The white shark is one of the ocean's most famous predators. Collectively known as cetaceans, these animals can be forced to perform tricks in circus-like environments, including in dolphinariums or aquariums. It is the largest member of the Delphinidae family, or dolphins. They swim around with their mouths open, and water and potential food pass through their filter pads and gills. But seriously, I agree with the idea that the sharks are better off alive (as opposed to being item #43 on a Chinese restaurant menu) and serving to educate the public. Humpback whales? The mystery of the whale shark and its incredible longevity has fascinated scientists for centuries. 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. Suppose you would like to encounter a whale shark. Though there was no definitive cause of death, I felt reassured that it wasnt due to intentional lack of care. 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. Our inability to observe a creature in nature to me does not justify forcefully creating the situation. If they live longer in the wild than they do in captivity, then NO aquarium offers the best care available. The young shark, measuring only 38cm (15in), was found with its tail tied to a stake at a beach in Pilar, Sorsogon, Philippines, and was released into the wild. They can't differentiate between plankton and little pieces of. You get my meaning. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. I do not fault the Georgia Aquarium and I understand the reasoning behind capturing wildlife for research purposes. The dive with the sharks program seems to be a great program for shark lovers and people who want to explore the sharks living environment. The Doctor only talked about one of the sharks and not the onther one. The point is that aquariums shouldn't try to keep them until and unless they know how to keep them alive. Anyway, obviously it wont be a problem with Whale Sharks specifically, but if people seeing fish in aquaria leads to them wanting their own fish-in-a-tank at home, it could further pressure fish stocks and damage coral reef ecosystems (in particular). At first glance, this might seem like a ridiculous conjecture: A baby, after all, is missing most of the capabilities that define the human mind, such as language and the ability to, Joe Keohane has a fascinating summary of our political biases in the Boston Globe Ideas section this weekend. Reminds me of Orr, Yossarians roommate in Catch-22. Discovery Channel does not do these animals justice. These creatures have some key differences. Ethically, though, I dont have a problem with them keeping whale sharks, once I get over the shock of the idea. 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 . Did you know that bettas are total cold-blooded savages? Do they presently have one? Amy (Hamilton, not BlueGrass Blue crab) and I were pondering a road trip to visit it back in 2007 but I thought it was released. Ofcourse it is a good thing the sharks are now alive and not on a plate, and as i said later in my message if the visitors walk away with a different view on sharks i am all for that as well. As far as the whale sharks go, I think this particular aquarium was put in a sticky situation. And getting food is the most important. WWF experts continue to study shark habits and gather information in the Coral Triangle on individual sharks by using satellite tags, sonar devices and digital cameras. They are both based on premises I don't accept. . Sharks can move comfortably during their transportation to their next habitat. You can also shop using Amazon Smile and though you pay nothing more we get a tiny something. The tail has a larger upper lobe than the lower lobe (heterocercal). @Sam: The lifespan of Killer Whales (O. orca) is shorter in captivity than in the wild. Whale sharks were found to possess dermal denticles on the surface of their eyeballs which are structured differently from their body denticles. My only guess is that they dont know much about the biology of the critters. The sharks were facing the open market of Taiwan where the meat surely would have laid upon the extravagant pallets of Taiwanese consumers. "Yes, so long as papers are being published, anything whatsoever should be allowed". [28] In 2011, laser photogrammetry was proposed to improve in-water measurement accuracy.[28][30]. [21], Evidence suggests that whale sharks can recover from major injuries and may be able to regenerate small sections of their fins. Rick, I was not suggesting that unethical and inhumane collecting and display practices are permissible if done in the name of science, but rather suggesting that these institutions aren't even trying to learn anything about the animals they have captured. . ScienceBlogs is a registered trademark of Science 2.0, a science media nonprofit operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The aquarium is, of course, going to say theyre happy and healthy. Healthy adult . The fact that there stress levels are lower in the aquarium then in the wild shows that they clearly are not suffering from their current condition. Also, as mentioned in the article, if they were not there they would just be used as food. I do not believe that the unfortunate deaths of these two animals is any reflection of the morality of having them in captivity. Some zoos and places are allowing a positive image for conservation but only if they are funding real research and field work in the field of conservation and most zoos do not. Also, whered they get veterinarians trained to manage whale shark health? Seeing an aquarium shark is an unforgettable experience for anyone, but seeing one in its natural environment is that and more. The biggest benefit I see by their presence in the Georgia Aquarium, however, is their ability to spark the imagination of millions of kids. Now that people got to see them at the Georgia Aquarium they feel a larger sense of responsibility in preserving these species. It definitely gives insight on the Georgia Aquarium! As I mentioned, I do not TOTALLY agree it works, which means I do a bit, but am not sure about the solid connection. They are completely harmless to humans, though they can reach a length of up to 20 meters. The main difference between these two giants is that they inhabit regions of the oceans. Furthermore, the aquarium has specialized feeding requirements and has a large tank, making it possible for whale sharks to swim around in the water. 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. Found in every ocean in the world, they are the . Despite their majestic nature, whale sharks are extremely rare in the wild and are frequently seen only in movies. The same documentary showed footage of a whale shark timing its arrival to coincide with the mass spawning of fish shoals and feeding on the resultant clouds of eggs and sperm. [10][12][24][25] Limited evidence, mostly from males, suggests that sexual maturity occurs around 8 to 9 meters (26 to 30ft) in length, with females possibly maturing at a similar size or larger. I hope to be able to see the facility for myself sometime in the near future and get a better prospective. I believe sharks should only be held in captivity if its better for that shark and they have a better chance of living longer. Their spot markings have also been shown to reform over a previously wounded area. He was not very specific about what the procedures of the conservative treatment were, but that is the best guess they have for the loss of appetite in the whale sharks. Needless to say, the move comes with the usual mixture of emotions, as I've greatly enjoyed my four years as part of the, Over at Gizmodo, Joel Johnson makes a convincing argument for adding random strangers to your twitter feed: [78], Hundreds of whale sharks are illegally killed every year in China for their fins, skins, and oil. I would love to see a study on this as well. They are victims of bycatch, the accidental capture of non-target species in fishing gear. This article is very interesting to me, I thought the interview was a really good idea, and having it opened it up to the public even more. My daughter is now almost 2 years old and i would love to take her to aquariums to see sharks and dolphins in the hope she shares my passion for marine life, and later the protection of it. No problem Laelaps. It concluded that males on average reach 8 to 9 meters (26 to 30ft) in length; although this does not represent the maximum possible size. Keeping animals in captivity is a touchy subject. Globally, dolphins and whales in captivity form a multi-billion dollar industry . Our Research & Conservation team work to ensure the survival of wild species and ecosystems and stop biodiversity loss. Despite the aquariums progress, there are still concerns about the animals welfare. Animals mating in captivity is perhaps the single greatest indicator of happiness, that is, that all their needs are being taken care of. Andrew Smith, a military doctor associated with British troops stationed in Cape Town, described it the following year. However, standing at the oceans edge does not compare to the excitement and discovery I experienced at the Baltimore aquarium. The majority of whale sharks that are kept in captivity do not fare well. It attracts numerous tourists yearly who want to dive and swim with the gentle giants. I think zoos and aquariums should have to meet some basic threshold of knowledge before they are allowed to keep certain species. If the aquarium did not buy them, they would have been dead anyways. The other benefit is always financial who would donate enough money to fund all the research that is needed? The Aquarium is also involved in rescue and rehabilitation efforts for marine mammals, birds, and sea turtles. I can speak to professional aquarists on Tuesday if youd like. Based on this discovery, some scientists no longer believe this area is just a feeding ground; this site may be a birthing ground, as well. I think that the dive with the sharks program is definitely appropriate, it allows divers to get a more up close and personal look at various species and in turn they can educate others about these animals and the importance of conservation which is always important for studies and future generations.