Whale shark found dead in Bali amid marine conservation efforts

A male whale shark, measuring approximately eight meters in length, was found dead and subsequently buried on a beach in the Jembrana Regency of Bali. Following an inspection by various agencies, including the Balai Besar Riset Budidaya Laut dan Penyuluhan Perikanan (BBRBLPP) Gondol and the Jaringan Satwa Indonesia (JSI), the carcass was buried using heavy equipment to prevent environmental or public health impacts.

In a separate context regarding marine conservation in Indonesia, PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) is implementing measures to protect whale sharks from vessel collisions in shipping lanes, such as those in Talisayan, East Kalimantan. The species is currently listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with global populations having declined by more than 50 percent.