The world’s largest fish was
recently declared an endangered species.
Most whale sharks live in the
Indo-Pacific, where Indonesia lies.
The giant fish is a protected
species in Indonesia, but that hasn't stopped poachers from hunting it for its
fins, skin and oil.
Advocates want the Indonesian
government to crack down on traffickers and do more to promote sustainable
ecotourism that contributes to the creature's conservation.
In 2013, Indonesia declared the
whale shark a protected species, hoping to put a dent in the thriving trade in
its body and parts which was pushing the world’s largest fish toward
extinction.
The new distinction failed to
halt an alarming decline in its numbers. Earlier this year, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) was uplisted from
Vulnerable to Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Now, conservationists are saying
Indonesia must do more to protect the school bus-sized creature, including
through improved ecotourism management, law enforcement and legal protection.
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