Slightly Graphic video; Animals Asia: Anger and sorrow as 13 more bears die in Halong

 “This is cruel, despicable, illegal & heartbreaking. Caught & imprisoned from cub to adult in tiny rusty cages; their world is one of pain, irritation, infection, teeth pulling & repulsive food; literally going stir crazy!! They simply won’t know what it is like to live as a wild bear should, with fresh air, lush grass & trees etc. They can not be returned to the wild as they simply wouldn’t be able to survive; having been kept a prisoner most of their pitiful lives!. Although the video documentary is 43 minutes long, I urge you to watch it, see how Animal Asia started undercover investigation to save these sentient beings. It is hard to imagine how these beautiful bears can still be bought or caught, entrapped some wear a metal jacket around them, with a tube constantly fixed; to extract bile. But it’s not just bile, parts of the bear can also be acquired; the farmers will make money dead or alive.  Public demand warrants this abuse; even though there are now synthetic bear bile products, there is no need for these bears to live & die in a cage; in constant pain. These bears need to be rescued so please help by signing the petition at the end of this blog & share amongst your social media friends etc.”

29 January 2015

Thirteen more bears have died at Cau Trang Bear Farm in Halong Bay, Vietnam bringing the total death toll since November last year to 18.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION BELOW

It leaves Cau Trang bear bile farm – at the centre of an international campaign demanding permission to rescue the bears – with only nine remaining bears. The campaign had been backed by over 80,000 animal lovers including celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Olivia Newton-John.

In the two months since Animals Asia inspected three farms in the vicinity of the World Heritage Site, 26 of the 49 moon bears – a protected species – are said to have died leaving just 23 alive in Halong City.

(Some scenes are graphic) Although this video is long, please watch it to understand what happens to these poor bears & how Animal Asia came about to rescue them!

“Published on 13 Sep 2012

Watch the hard-hitting, undercover documentary showing the brutality of the bear bile industry across China, which recently won a top award at the Fifth China Ya’an International Panda, Animals and Nature Film Week. The documentary was made by three independent film-makers who devoted four years to its production, visiting small and large bear bile farms, revealing “legal” farms with conditions that are clearly breaking current regulations for such farms in China.”

Having previously focussed just on Cau Trang Farm, Animals Asia is now pressing the Vietnamese government to allow it to bring all 23 remaining bears in the Halong City area to its Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in nearby Tam Dao.

The latest news has left Animals Asia staff devastated and angry that bears have been allowed to die when an offer for their rescue remains on the table.

Authorities, concerned that the bears are being slaughtered for parts for use in traditional medicine have also ordered that TV cameras cover their burial – as interest in the case continues to grow in Vietnam.

Animals Asia’s Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said:

“The eyes of the country are now on Quang Ninh province and the relevant authorities to see that right course of action is taken. We cannot be sure of the exact details surrounding the bears’ deaths but we can say the farmer chose to let them die. We offered to treat the animals and the offer was rejected. It was the farmer who took the decision to let the animals die. It was a conscious choice. We can only speculate as to his motives.”

The Central Forest Protection Department (FPD) has informed Animals Asia that it is urgently requesting the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) form an investigation team.

The team, expected to include representatives from Central FPD, CITES and MARD’s Nature Conservation Department, would travel to Quang Ninh province to investigate the exact causes of death, whether the correct procedures were followed to dispose of the bodies and to ascertain how the remaining bears can be saved.

Animals Asia founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE, said:

“These deaths are utterly tragic and unnecessary. It’s heart breaking to learn that so many bears have spent years suffering on the farms, and have now needlessly died when there is a sanctuary ready and willing to give them the life they deserve just a few hours down the road.”

“Through the increased local coverage of the deaths of these bears, Vietnam is seeing the reality and brutality of bear bile farming. While their deaths have shone a spotlight on the industry in Vietnam, there was no need for them to die at all.”

“There have been enough delays and we’ve seen what that has achieved. The time has come to act, and act now. We are beseeching the authorities – let us save the remaining Halong Bay bears before it’s too late.”

Nearly 2,000 bears remain in cages in Vietnam being farmed for their bile for use in traditional medicine – despite the practice being made illegal. Bear bile farming technically became illegal in 1992 when Ministry of Forestry approval became necessary to keep bears. In 2002, bears came under CITES group I, making their exploitation strictly illegal. However it wasn’t until 2005 that the first species-specific regulations were enacted.

Animals Asia has rescued over 500 bears from bear bile farming as part of its work to end bear bile farming in China and Vietnam.

HELP US SAVE THE HALONG BAY BEARS

Emaciated, missing limbs, some near blind, others with open wounds, all starving – these are the animal collateral of Vietnam’s cruel bear bile industry.

Help us force the farmer who profited for years from these poor bears to hand them over to Animals Asia for urgent medical care and rehabilitation.

Sign the petition and ask the Vietnamese government to remove the bears from the farm so Animals Asia can give them the care they deserve.

Animals Asia was founded in 1998 and is devoted to ending the barbaric practice of bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION:- http://halong.animalsasia.org/savehalongbears/

NEWS LINK:- https://www.animalsasia.org/uk/media/news/news-archive/anger-and-sorrow-as-13-more-bears-die-in-halong.html

The ISSUES ABOUT BEAR BILE FARMING

More than 10,000 bears – mainly moon bears, but also sun bears and brown bears – are kept on bile farms in China, and just under 2,000 in Vietnam. The bears are milked regularly for their bile, which is used in traditional medicine.

Bile is extracted using various painful, invasive techniques, all of which cause massive infection in the bears. This cruel practice continues despite the availability of a large number of effective and affordable herbal and synthetic alternatives.

Most farmed bears are kept in tiny cages. In China, the cages are sometimes so small that the bears are unable to turn around or stand on all fours. Some bears are put into cages as cubs and never released. Bears may be kept caged like this for up to 30 years. Most farmed bears are starved, dehydrated and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumours that ultimately kill them.

“PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP SAVE THE REMAINING BEARS! “

News Link:–https://www.animalsasia.org/uk/our-work/end-bear-bile-farming/

Asiatic Lion Cub Loses Battle, Dies At Mysore Zoo

MYSORE: The Mysore Zoo‘s six months battle to save an Asiatic lion cub has failed.

The seven-month old cub that was abandoned by her mother days after her birth in July; died on Wednesday.

Preliminary investigations have revealed the cub Chamundi died due to acute

Asiatic Lion

hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, executive director of the zoo B P Ravi said.

According to post mortem report released by the zoo, Chamundi was normal on Tuesday and consumed food in the evening. Early in the morning, she vomited and died by 8.45 am. She was weak and anaemic too.

Chamundi was the first Asiatic lion born at the zoo and struggled really hard for three months to survive. Though the zoo has successfully hand-reared other species, it could not save the cub which was housed at the zoo hospital since her birth.

Born to Gowri and Shankara, who arrived from the Sakkarbaug Zoo in Gujarat in 2010, on July 29 Chamundi was abandoned by her mother within two days. At first, it appeared the lion and lioness were getting used to the job of rearing their first offspring in captivity, but they abandoned the cub. Experts said lion cubs are usually rejected by the mother. Shankar was six and Gowri five when they sired Chamundi.

The cub was removed from the enclosure and put into holding room at the zoo hospital even as the Zoo Authority of Karnataka contacted the Sakkarbaug Zoo to get experts advice. The zoo authorities were told that survival of hand-fed lion cub are slim, but Chamundi pulled it off managing to intake milk initially and later switched to solid food by mid-November.

The zoo was feeding her chicken and soup to build immunity. Besides, a vet was assigned to monitor her, her holding room sanitized and temperature regulated. Except one animal keeper, no other staff was allowed near the cub to avoid her getting infected.

Mysore zoo is the only facility in Karnataka to house Asiatic lions, thanks to efforts by former cricketer Anil Kumble, who is co-vice chairman of State Board for Wildlife Board.

News Link:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Asiatic-lion-cub-loses-battle-dies-at-Mysore-Zoo/articleshow/18595489.cms

Polar bear killed by HEATWAVE: Argentine animal dies after becoming ‘nervous and irritated’ amid scorching heat and noise

“Posted on behalf of my mum”

• ‘Winner’ died of hyperthermia at Buenos Aires Zoo after overheating in high summer temperatures
• Polar bear was also thought to have been frightened by noise from Christmas Eve fireworks
• Animal was one of the most popular attractions at the Argentinian Zoo

The last remaining polar bear at Buenos Aires Zoo has died after overheating in soaring summer temperatures.

‘Winner,’ who was one of best loved attractions at the zoo, is believed to have been unable to control its body temperature in the extreme heat of the Argentinian summer and died of hyperthermia.

The animal, which was covered in heavy fur to cope with freezing conditions in its native Artic habitat, was also believed to have been frightened by the noise from fireworks let off to celebrate Christmas Eve

Tragedy: ‘Winner’ the last polar bear in Buenos Aires Zoo, Argentina, has died from hyperthermia in the soaring summer heat

The zoo is a popular visitor attraction in the Argentine capital and has a tradition of looking after polar bears.

The animals used to live in a pool but their cage was improved in 1993 when a 145,000-litre pool was built along with a site for birthing and three security rings.

The zoo said in a statement that it had been visited by experts and met all international regulations to house polar bears.

Heat: ‘Winner’ was a popular attraction for visitors to the Zoo (seen here swimming in his pool)

The polar bear is often regarded as a marine mammal because of the large amount of time it spends at sea.

Its preferred habitat is the annual sea ice covering the waters over the continental shelf in the Artic.

The animal is a very good swimmer with some spotted in the sea as far as 200 miles from land.

CAN BEARS FROM THE ARCTIC REALLY ADAPT TO WARMER WATERS?

Hardy: Polar bears often spend as much time in the sea as they do on land as they hunt for prey

Polar bears cannot simply acclimatise to hot climates. Even if a polar bear is born in a warm climate and lives there all of his life, he will still possess several physiological adaptations to life in the Arctic.

Even if he loses some fur and blubber, he will always have black skin that absorbs heat and hollow hairs which work as efficient solar collectors.

Polar bears do not have any physical means of staying cool; they rely on behaviour to do that.

They will try to take as much shade as possible during the warmest parts of the day and cool off in cold water when they overheat.

Zookeepers may try and balance their energy expenditure and food intake to regulate their body temperature and may be fed a vegetarian diet or simply very little during warmer times (eating meat and fat generates immediate heat energy).

The bottom line is that polar bears can be resilient but this does not mean that they are comfortable.

Polar bears are found in the Arctic Circle and on neighbouring land masses as far south as Newfoundland Island in Canada. Some sightings have even been reported in the far north of Norway.

The bears are rarer in the extreme north of the Arctic although the animal is believed to roam across right across the region.

They tend to favour hunting on sea ice and in the sea in search of prey such as seals. Polar bears often frequent areas where sea ice meets water – primarily around the edges of the ice pack, where more seals can be found.

The global polar bear population is believed to be between 20,000 and 25,000 with 19 recognized sub-populations.

The polar bear is the largest terrestrial carnivore, with adult males weighing between 350 and 680 kg (770–1500 lbs) and measuring between 7.9 and 9.8 ft in length.

News Link:-: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2253662/Buenos-Aires-Zoos-Polar-bear-Winner-killed-heatwave.html#ixzz2GHEXTzKe

 

Alligator dies after being hit by zoo stoned in João Pessoa

“I find it hard to believe a stone could cause a spinal fracture, on a reptile with such thick skin…nor kill it…a brick or something heavier could cause fracture…but still, I doubt that would kill it? If you look at the picture there is a large rock behind the gator on the left side, middle of picture. There also looks to be something like a piece of pipe or similar object, near the front right side. Or perhaps it was caused during a fight or when the alligator was moved; either way it’s laying in some disgusting crap! It’s just one more of a million reasons why wild animals should not be caged, they have no escape from a more dominant species, they can’t hide anywhere!.”

A yellow alligator at Park Zoobotânico Arruda Camara, known as Bica, in João Pessoa, died on Monday (15) after being hit by a stone thrown by a visitor. According to park director, Jair Azevedo, the report of the autopsy, which does not define exactly when the incident occurred, shows that the animal had a spinal fracture.

According to a necropsy; animal had spinal fracture after being hit by stoned

“How thick skin of an animal, technicians only realized what had happened when he started to show the first symptoms. The alligator was paralyzed, unable to walk, “reported the director of Bica.

Jair Azevedo said that an inquiry has been opened by the direction of the park to determine under what circumstances the alligator was hit by stone. Will also be determined if there was a failure in monitoring.

The director believes that the incident happened because the animal was removed from the enclosure where it was and put in a smaller, leaving the alligator closest to the visitors. “We had to take this approach because he was very domineering, and lived fighting with other animals. If we had not done that, he would have killed the others, “he explained.

At Park House Arruda, according to the direction, there are 30 alligators of the same species. “It’s a fairly common species here but facts like these are always regrettable. We would like to alert the public to respect animals. The public should have an observer of behavior, and not put food, throw stones, “punctuated the park director.

Jair Azevedo also said that investigations must be completed within 15 days. “If it is pointed out something more serious in the death of the animal, we ask the support of the city administration,” he concluded.

Editor’s Note: We are faced with two violence. The first is to forcibly remove the animals from nature, to confine them in prisons known as zoos. The second violence is most glaring in the eyes, but as brutal as the first: the cruelty of throwing a stone against a sentient being is one of the most terrible consequences experienced by animals exploited and tortured by the cruel nature of which many human beings are endowed. The ANDA regrets for all animals who suffer and agonize in human hands, always arguing that all forms of exploitation, violence and disrespect for life is severely opposed.

News Link:–http://www.anda.jor.br/17/10/2012/jacare-morre-apos-ser-atingido-por-pedrada-em-zoo-de-joao-pessoa

 

Leopard caught in wire snare dies

MYSORE: A leopard trapped in a wire snare inside Bandipur tiger reserve died on Friday.

This comes two months after a gang of poachers was arrested for placing jaw traps inside the Biligiri Ranga Tiger (BRT) wildlife sanctuary.

Not related. 

Authorities suspect that the trap was laid by locals to catch a boar or a hare. The leopard, around 8 years, was found dead in a snare in N Begur forest range near Katwalu village. The feline died because of the injuries sustained while trying to claw out of the snare, said forest officials. A Special Tiger Protection Force team has been asked to probe the crime along with jurisdiction forest officers, said Kumar Pushkar, director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Authorities have intensified checks inside the forest and said that they have not discovered any other snares in the reserved area. Pushkar ruled out the role of any organized gang laying the trap. “Going by the way the trap was laid we are sure that it was done by the locals,” he added.

In July BRT reserve authorities had arrested a six-member gang from Haryana for laying jaw traps for tigers inside the reserve area. The jaw traps would be activated in the night. In the morning they would be dismantled and stowed away.

Following their arrest, patrolling was intensified and checks were conducted to discover traps.

Former Kumki Kavita unwell

Kavita, an elephant from the K Gudi elephant camp, a regular at the Dasara celebrations since years is battling for survival.

The 75-year-old kumki (accompanying) elephant has poor vision in one eye because of which it has been a victim of minor accidents in the forest. Recently it stumbled in the forest injuring herself badly.

Kavita

The elephant is weak and unwell from the past 15 days. No veterinarian from the department has visited K Gudi camp to treat the elephant. “It is aged and there is no point in treating it,” allegedly said a doctor when he was told of the elephant’s suffering.

However, Biligiri Ranga Tiger (BRT) wildlife sanctuary director Vijaya Mohan Raj denied that elephants in the camps are being neglected . He denied allegations that Kavita was not being treated. “In fact, we have started giving special food to the elephant so that she gains energy. She is responding to treatment.” he said.

News Link:-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-15/mysore/33862059_1_jaw-traps-bandipur-tiger-reserve-elephant

Staten Island man sentenced to a year in jail for animal cruelty

 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A judge took a bite out of a New Brighton felon, sentencing him on Thursday to a year in jail for maltreating two dogs, resulting in one’s death.

James E. Jones, 31, was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to torturing and injuring animals.

Last month, James E. Jones, 31, pleaded guilty in Stapleton Criminal Court to torturing and injuring animals, a misdemeanor.

Under his pleas, he was sentenced to concurrent one-year jail terms, said prosecutors. Jones also signed a $2,000 confession of judgment and will be forbidden from owning animals.

Jones was arrested in April, three months after ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) agents rescued two emaciated and dehydrated pit bulls, said officials.

According to court papers, Jones owned the dogs — two brindle-and-white females — 1 and 3 years old, respectively, between Sept. 1, 2011, and Jan. 6 of this year.

He didn’t name the animals and kept them in a garage outside his home, said Joseph Pentangelo, an ASPCA spokesman.

Jones gave the dogs little food and water, he said.

Desperate for sustenance, the pit bulls resorted to eating anything they could chew to stay alive, said Pentangelo.

The ASPCA received an anonymous tip about the pit bulls’ condition and rescued them in January, he said.

The dogs were found to be “dehydrated, weak and emaciated,” according to court papers.

An examination revealed that both were eating “non-nutritive substances,” such as pieces of plastic, insulated wire and particulate matter, court documents state.

Laverne, the younger animal named by rescuers, didn’t survive, despite efforts to save her.

The older dog, christened Shirley, recovered.

Besides the animal cruelty charge, Jones pleaded guilty to obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, stemming from an unrelated July 25 arrest, said prosecutors

Defense lawyer Michael Gompers previously declined comment on the pleas.

Jones was previously convicted in the Bronx of attempted criminal weapon possession, a felony, and sentenced to 18 months in prison, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He was released on parole in March 2004.

News Link:–http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/staten_island_man_sentenced_to_10.html

 

Victory For Greyhounds: Tucson Bans Steroids, Thwarting Race Track

Tucson  AZ has joined South Tucson and banned the use of anabolic steroids within city limits.

Tucson Dog Protection was instrumental in getting the ban passed. According to their chairwoman Susan Via, injecting these steroids into females can cause liver and genital damage/deformities, infections of the genitals and shortens their lives. 

The Tucson Greyhound Park is located in South Tucson and that city has already banned the use of steroids for the racing dogs. To get around this issue, the dogs were taken to Tucson and legally injected there by the track veterinarian.

The Tucson Greyhound Park CEO and General Manager Tom Taylor defends the use of steroids as effective birth control for females. Every (veterinarian) I have worked with said it is a medication,” Taylor said. “If administered properly, it does what it is supposed to do” and nothing else. “It’s what’s best for the dogs,” Taylor said. “And we will always do what’s best for the dogs.”

Many in Tucson disagree. Between 2005 and 2006 the park reportedly lost 140 dogs, it is assumed by a hauler. In 2010 eight dogs died from the heat on their way to Tucson. Greyhound activists have shown footage of dogs being crammed into dark, small cages and fed meat that is rated 4D, and should not be consumed.

Greyhound activists and others would like to end dog racing in Arizona completely. Banning anabolic steroid use is a step in the right direction.

News Link:–http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/09/victory-for-greyhounds-tucson-bans-steroids-thwarting-race-track/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LifeWithDogs+%28Life+With+Dogs%29

Sheriff: Rare white buffalo in Texas died of infection, wasn’t killed as owner suspected

 

DALLAS — A rare white buffalo found dead in Texas died from a bacterial infection and wasn’t killed and mutilated, as its owner suspected, authorities said Tuesday.

n this June 29, 2011 file photo, Lightning Medicine Cloud, a rare white buffalo, left, walks in a corral after a Native American naming ceremony was held in Greenville, Texas. Hunt County Sheriff Randhy Meeks on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 said the calf died from a bacterial infection and wasn’t killed and mutilated, as its owner suspected. Lightning Medicine Cloud died in May on the Lakota Ranch

Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks said a veterinarian made the determination and that photographs indicate the calf wasn’t skinned. He said the investigation is closed unless new evidence surfaces.

The calf, named Lightning Medicine Cloud, died in May on the Lakota Ranch near Greenville, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas.

Ranch owner Arby Little Soldier reported finding the calf skinned and believed it had been killed as part of a hate crime. He didn’t return a message seeking comment Tuesday. Meeks said Little Soldier had not been notified about the results of the investigation as of Tuesday afternoon.

As a non-albino white buffalo, the calf was revered by Native Americans. According to Lakota Sioux lore, the goddess of peace once appeared in the form of a white buffalo calf. The buffalo’s death sparked international attention, Little Soldier has said, and one Oregon organization planned to donate a white buffalo bull from its herd.

Meeks said the sheriff’s office was not notified of Lightning Medicine Cloud’s death until six days after the animal died. It had been buried for three days because Little Soldier “wanted to talk to his elders before he contacted us,” Meeks said.

Meeks said the investigation revealed two more buffalo have died at the Lakota Ranch since May. He said investigators believe blackleg, a bacterial infection, was responsible for all of the deaths.

“It lays dormant in the land,” Meeks said of the spores that cause the infection. “It’s very preventable by vaccination. We were not told by the Little Soldiers that these two had died.”

Terry Hensley, a Texas A&M extension office veterinarian, said a blackleg vaccine is available for cattle but has not been approved for buffalo. Some experts say the cattle vaccine has been effective in buffalo, Hensley said.

Animals eat the spores, or the spores enter the body through a wound. The spores, a small number of which are usually found in an animal’s digestive tract, can lay dormant inside the animal’s muscles, and break out months or years later. The bacteria become activated by quick growth or muscle exertion.

“Normally they’re healthy one day and the rancher finds them dead the next,” Hensley said.

Lightning Medicine Cloud’s mother Buffalo Woman was found dead a day after the white buffalo’s death. Little Soldier has said he believes she was poisoned. Meeks said he could not comment on the mother’s death.

Little Soldier had offered a $45,000 reward for information about the animal’s death.

Meeks said no charges will be filed against Little Soldier.

News Link:–http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/sheriff-rare-white-buffalo-in-texas-died-of-infection-wasnt-killed-as-owner-suspected/2012/08/21/e49e4322-ebed-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html

Related:-https://preciousjules1985.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/rare-buffalo-killing-called-a-hate-crime/

 

Lewiston Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty

“WTF…The lazy axxxd bxxxh, couldn’t she be bothered to take them to a shelter?…I am having a hard time lately of controlling my distaste for people like this, they certainly are not human, it is they that are the animals; so apologies for my language.”

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) _ Police say a Lewiston woman is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly dumping four newborn kittens in the trash earlier this month.

Animal Control Officer Wendell Strout says 43-year-old Stacy Monahan was charged Tuesday.

Strout tells the Sun Journal he interviewed Monahan after a pair of witnesses indicated she might be responsible for dumping the kittens, which were found Aug. 12. Strout says the kittens were left in a large trash container near Monahan’s home.

The kittens were found covered with fleas and maggots and with their umbilical cords still attached. 

The kittens were taken to the Androscoggin Humane Society where three ended up dying. The fourth has been adopted and is thriving.

News Link:-http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/23487/Default.aspx

Whale shark found dead near Mangrol

 

AHMEDABAD: The coastal dwellers of Mangrolin Porbandar district woke to a strange sight. The carcass of a huge whale shark, that weigh 10 tonnes and was about 47 feet long, had been washed up on the shores of Mangrol on Sunday.

As the news spread, people living in nearby villages rushed to the coast to see the big shark which was lying on the shore. The forest department and the local police had a tough time controlling the endless stream of visitors that went close to the shark to touch it and even took photographs, posing before the dead shark.

For Info. Only

Officials of the forest department said that the full grown whale shark was examined to find if it had died due to some fishing boat or any other factor. But, post mortem examination revealed that the whale shark had died due to natural causes. The forest department buried the shark close to the spot where it was found, after the medical examination.

A senior official said that this would be among the few full grown sharks that have been found dead on the shore. This, once again, reveals that the sharks are found in the Indian water and come here during the monsoons.

The state government in association with the Wildlife Trust of India has also tagged few sharks for satellite tracking. “Tags are put on the sharks to get information about the path that they take to come to Gujarat coast and also to get the details as to where do they actually come from,” said an official.

The whale shark was listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act in 2001, according to the highest level of protection. It is this Mangrol, a small fishing town situated along the Gujarat coast, that has a mascot – the whale shark. The adoption was declared during the Whale Shark Day celebrations to mark the successful Whale Shark Campaign.

News Link:–http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Whale-shark-found-dead-near-Mangrol/articleshow/15382527.cms?intenttarget=no